Australia has become the first country globally to enact laws banning children and teenagers from using social media. The legislation, passed by the Senate on Thursday, will restrict anyone under the age of 16 from accessing platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and X starting next year. The government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, argued that the law was necessary to protect young people’s mental health and well-being.
The law aims to address concerns over social media’s impact on youth, such as addiction and mental health issues. Studies have linked extensive social media use with lower self-esteem and psychological distress in teenagers. In response to these concerns, the Australian government has implemented stringent measures to block minors from platforms, despite many social media companies already having age restrictions in place. The legislation includes penalties of up to AU$50 million (about $32 million) for platforms that fail to comply with the new rules.
A notable feature of the law is that social media companies will not be allowed to require government-issued identification for age verification, which was a key issue during the legislation’s drafting. The law has garnered significant support, with 34 senators voting in favor, while 19 opposed it. In the House of Representatives, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor, with 102 votes for and 13 against the bill.
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that the reform was long overdue and described it as a landmark decision to safeguard the rights and mental health of Australian children. While some minors may find ways to circumvent the restrictions, the government’s goal is to send a strong message to social media companies to take more responsibility in protecting young users.
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