Australia approves ban on social media for under-16s

The landmark Social Media Minimum Age bill sets Australia up as a test case for a growing number of governments.

A number of countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation.

Australian lawmakers approved a bill on Thursday banning social media for children under 16.

It requires social media platforms like Meta, X, and TikTok to take  “reasonable steps” to prevent young teens from having creating accounts. They could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (€30.5 million; $32 million) if they fail to comply.

The legislation passed parliament’s lower chamber on Wednesday and passed the Senate late on Thursday evening.

A trial of methods to enforce the measure will start in January with the ban to take effect in a year.
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The House has yet to endorse opposition amendments made in the Senate.

Australia’s major parties, however, all supported the bill, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying young Australians should be “off their phones and onto the footy and cricket field, the tennis and netball courts, in the swimming

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