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Tengrinews.kz - The Australian government has launched a bill in parliament that bans social media for children under 16, proposing fines of up to AU$50 million for platforms for non-compliance, according to Reuters.
Tengrinews.kz - The Australian government has launched a bill in parliament that bans social media for children under 16, proposing fines of up to AU$50 million for platforms for non-compliance, according to Reuters.
In early November, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced government plans to restrict social media access, including TikTok and Instagram, for children under the age of 16, citing risks to their physical and mental health.
The bill, introduced on Thursday, outlines fines of up to AU$50 million ($32 million) for social media platforms that fail to comply. If passed, this proposal would be the highest age restriction set by any country.
Australia is also trialing an age-verification system, potentially using personal data such as biometrics or government identification, to enforce the ban.
Additionally, the bill prohibits exceptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.
"This is a landmark reform. We know some kids will find workarounds, but we're sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act," said Albanese in a statement.
However, Albanese noted that useful online platforms for messaging, gaming, and education-related services will be exempted, such as Google Classroom, YouTube, and Headspace.
"For too many young Australians, social media can be harmful. Almost two-thirds of 14 to 17-year-old Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online, including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm," Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in parliament.
Apart from Australia, other countries have considered banning social media for children, including Norway which plans to introduce a strict minimum age limit of 15 as the government intensifies its campaign against tech companies.
