"The new law means social media firms - including Meta, TikTok and YouTube - must take "reasonable steps" to ensure Australians aged under 16 don't hold accounts on their platforms. The ban, eyed with excitement by global leaders and trepidation by tech companies, was justified as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms - though critics have argued blanket prohibition is neither practical nor wise."
"This landmark policy has been one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pet projects, and speaking to media on Wednesday he said he believed it has the power to change lives around the world. "This is a day in which my pride to be prime minister of Australia has never been greater," he said, flanked by parents and media figures who had pushed for the ban. "This is Australia showing enough is enough.""
"Various governments, from the US state of Florida to the European Union, have been experimenting with limiting children's use of social media. But, along with a higher age limit of 16, Australia is the first jurisdiction to deny an exemption for parental approval in a policy like this - making its laws the world's strictest. Countries like Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, Greece and Brazil are among those who have said they're looking at Australia as a test case."
Australia has implemented a nationwide ban preventing people under 16 from holding social media accounts. Major platforms including Meta, TikTok and YouTube are required to take "reasonable steps" to stop under-16s accessing accounts. The law removes parental-consent exceptions and sets a higher age limit of 16, making it the world's strictest such policy. Ten platforms were named initially and others have been warned they will face the same rules. The online safety regulator will begin compliance checks immediately. Supporters frame the measure as child-protective; critics warn of impracticality and that some young users are already evading controls.
Read at www.bbc.com
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