Founder of teen channel 6 News criticizes Anthony Albanese’s social media ban for children under 16

The founder of an Australian news channel staffed exclusively by teenage journalists has responded to new laws that will ban children under the age of 16 from social media.

Leo Puglisi, 17, has run the online news service 6 News since he started his media career at the age of 11.

In five years, the site had grown into an hourly bulletin channel with nearly 30,000 subscribers on YouTube, in addition to hundreds of thousands of followers on other social media platforms.

Commenting on the legislation passed by parliament on Friday, Puglisi said the ban “poses a serious risk of limiting the creativity of our young people.”

“As Australia’s only national streaming news channel run almost entirely by high school teenagers, 6 News has often been asked what the under-16s social media ban means for us,” he said.

“Let’s be clear: 6 News is not going away.”

The Melbourne-based news boss said his online site was set up by the age group the laws would want to ban when they are introduced in late 2025.

“Our team consists of many young journalists – some are still in high school, while others are preparing to go to college,” he said.

Leo Puglisi (pictured), 17, who has run the online news service 6 News since starting his media career at the age of 11, said the new ban on social media for children under 16 “poses a serious risk of compromising the creativity of our young people are limited

The ban, which was passed on Friday by the government of Anthony Albanese (pictured), prohibits young people under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).

‘With the ban not coming into force for another 12 months, there is serious potential for a lot to change.

‘But whatever happens, we will still be here for you, providing trustworthy, independent and unbiased journalism for all ages.’

The new laws come amid concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.

Under the legislation, social media companies will have to take steps to ensure that children under the age of 16 cannot access their platforms. Violations could result in fines of up to $49.5 million.

Parents or children who do not follow the rules do not risk sanctions.

The details of the age verification process are yet to be confirmed, but Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has confirmed that users will not be required to provide government-issued ID to prove their age.

A trial of methods to enforce the ban will begin in January and the ban will come into effect by the end of 2025.

Critics have argued that the ban would not improve children’s mental health but would isolate them from online communities and resources to get help.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the measure something that would promote “better outcomes and less harm for young Australians.”

“Social media is causing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know we stand with them,” he said.

‘I’ve met parents who have lost and buried a child, it’s devastating.

‘As a government, we cannot listen to those messages from parents and say: ‘It is too difficult’.

“We have a responsibility to act, my government has done so.”