Australia Enforces Ban on Social Media Access for Those Under 16

Social media use by youngsters under the age of sixteen is prohibited in Australia, according to a recent announcement.

The world’s first law prohibiting under-16s was passed by the country’s parliament in spite of safety concerns.

A bill established by the Australian parliament aims to accomplish something that no other government has done, and many parents have attempted to prevent their children from using social media.

According to Labour Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, “there is a clear, causal link between the rise of social media and the harm  the mental health of young Australians, which prompted the creation of the new law.”

A bill prohibiting children under 16 from using social media sites was approved by the Senate, the upper chamber of parliament, yesterday by a vote of 34 to 19.

However, scholars, policymakers, and advocacy organisations said that the government’s planned ban would backfire, sending teens to the dark web or increasing their sense of loneliness.

Concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of the restriction.

Many are concerned that the procedure has been hurried and that social media corporations may receive sensitive personal information if users are required to provide proof of age.

The online safety amendment (social media minimum age) law prohibits social media businesses from granting access to their services to users under the age of sixteen. Failure to comply might result in fines of up to AU$50 million (US$32 million).

It simply states that businesses must take reasonable measures to guarantee users are 16 years of age or older, but it doesn’t go into specifics on how it would operate. The specifics will be revealed after an age-assurance technology trial is finished in the middle of 2025.