Australia says social media ban is 'for the good of our kids' in new ad campaign

"The 45-second video shows a number of children absorbed in their phones while a voiceover says: "For the good of Kirsty, for the good of Lucy and Anya, for the good of Sam, for the good of Holly, for the good of Noah, for the good of their wellbeing." It then adds: "From December 10, people under the age of 16 will no longer have access to social media accounts. It's part of a new law to keep under-16s safer online.""

"Australia's ban was passed into law in November 2024 and aims to delay teens' ability to set up social media accounts from the current age of 13 until the age of 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left government said research showed the over-use of social media was harming young teens, including causing misinformation, enabling bullying and harmful depictions of body image. Governments around the world are closely watching Australia's implementation of the ban, while social media platforms have pushed back on it."

Australia has launched a A$14 million campaign titled "For The Good Of" to publicize a law banning social media accounts for people under 16 starting December 10. The campaign will run on TV, billboards and social media and urges parents to begin conversations with their children. A 45-second ad portrays children absorbed in phones and states the new access restriction. The law, passed in November 2024, raises the minimum account age from 13 to 16. The government cites research linking excessive social media use to misinformation, bullying and harmful body-image depictions. International governments are watching and platforms have expressed concern.

Read at Reuters via Yahoo News