Australia's Prime Minister has announced plans to ban children under 16 from social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok due to growing concerns about their harmful impact. Tech companies will be held accountable, with fines for non-compliance. The law aims to protect children's mental health and online safety.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced plans to ban children under 16 from using social media, citing harmful effects from platforms like Facebook and TikTok. The government holds tech companies responsible for enforcing the ban and will impose fines if users bypass age restrictions. The proposed law, which is among the strictest globally, aims to protect vulnerable kids from cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and mental health issues linked to social media use. The new law will be presented to state leaders and parliament later this month, and platforms will have a year to comply.
Albanese emphasized that social media platforms must prove they are making sufficient efforts to prevent underage users from accessing their services. Industry giants like Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and TikTok have expressed concerns about the approach but have pledged to comply with any new regulations. Critics argue that the ban could limit teenagers' access to valuable mental health resources and important social connections.
While the proposal follows similar measures in Spain and Florida, some experts question whether such age restrictions can be effectively enforced, given the current shortcomings of age verification systems. Australia's move is part of ongoing efforts to regulate tech companies, following previous attempts to address misinformation, cyberbullying, and other online threats.
