Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media

The Australian Parliament has passed a bill that imposes a ban on children under the age of 16 from using social media. The upper house, the Senate, passed the bill on Thursday night, which prohibits children under 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X. Earlier, the lower house, the House of Representatives, had also passed the bill on Wednesday. This is the first law of its kind in the world, and it is believed to set a standard for other countries to follow.

Social media companies are now expected to take swift action to prevent children from opening accounts. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars. However, children who violate the law will not be penalized. Social media companies have criticized the law, calling it vague, problematic, and a hasty decision. The regulatory body has stated that it will take at least a year to prepare the necessary details and fully implement the ban.

Certain companies, such as WhatsApp and YouTube, might be exempt from the ban, as they are seen as necessary for teenagers’ entertainment, schoolwork, or other purposes.