Canberra, Australia: In a groundbreaking move, Australia has passed a law banning children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms.
The legislation, which was approved by the Senate on Thursday, aims to protect the mental health and well-being of young people by imposing strict age-verification measures on social media companies.
The new law, set to take effect in November 2025, mandates that platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook implement robust age-verification systems to prevent underage users from creating accounts. Companies failing to comply with these regulations could face fines of up to AUD 50 million (approximately USD 33 million) for systemic failures.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the legislation as a significant step towards safeguarding the mental health of Australia’s youth. “This law is a crucial measure to protect our children from the potential harms of social media,” Albanese said. “We must ensure that our young people are not exposed to the risks associated with these platforms at such a vulnerable age.”
The bill’s passage followed an intense debate in Parliament, with some lawmakers expressing concerns about the feasibility and implications of the age-verification process. Despite these reservations, the legislation received bipartisan support, reflecting a growing consensus on the need to address the impact of social media on young users.
Mental health experts have welcomed the new law, citing increasing evidence linking social media use to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among teenagers. However, some digital rights advocates have raised concerns about privacy and the potential for overreach in the enforcement of the age restrictions.
As Australia becomes one of the first countries to implement such stringent social media regulations, the world will be watching closely to see how these measures are enforced and their impact on the digital landscape.
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