Australia passes legislation banning under-16s from social media
Al Jazeera
Social media companies that do not enforce the ban could receive fines of up to AUS$50 million (US$32.5m).
Australia’s Parliament has passed a law banning children aged under 16 from using social media, one of the strictest regulations targeting the platforms in the world.
The law, which was passed by the Senate on Thursday, requires social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to prevent those under 16 from having accounts.
Failure to do so could result in fines of up to AUS$50 million (US$32.5m).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese championed the legislation and rallied parents to support the bill.
Before the vote in parliament, Albanese said social media was “a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators”.
