The Australian government has instituted a ban on social media for children under sixteen, becoming the first nation to do so, effective Wednesday. This policy change was met with approval from many parents and advocates for children but drew criticism from large technology firms and proponents of free speech. The law mandates that ten of the largest social media services, including platforms operated by Meta and Alphabet, must prevent access for users under the age cutoff or incur penalties. This legislation is being closely observed by regulatory bodies globally.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the law as a source of national pride for families and an example of how lawmakers can effectively address online harms that have exceeded existing protective measures. He emphasized the substantial impact of the reform, calling it one of the most significant social and cultural shifts the nation has undertaken. Albanese predicted that the profound reform would continue to resonate internationally.
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In a video message released prior to the upcoming summer school holidays, the Prime Minister advised children affected by the ban to redirect their free time toward other activities, suggesting they could “start a new sport, new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there for some time on your shelf.” The reaction among the children below the sixteen-year-old cutoff was mixed, with some expressing unease about transitioning to life without their accustomed social media presence, while others showed less concern. One fourteen-year-old indicated a neutral, unemotional stance on the change. A fifteen-year-old, while still having access to her accounts temporarily, voiced worry about potential “culture shock” but expressed confidence that they would eventually learn to adapt.
Although the government acknowledged the ban might not be perfectly enforced, initial figures showed a swift impact, with approximately two hundred thousand accounts deactivated on TikTok by Wednesday and hundreds of thousands more expected to be blocked shortly. The legislation affects an estimated one million children. Many of those affected posted farewell messages online, with one teen lamenting the loss of contact with the outside world and another writing, “seeyouwhenim16.” Conversely, some minors indicated they would seek methods to circumvent the new restrictions.
Source: Australia Begins Implementing World First Ban On Teen Use Of Social Media Platforms