Canberra Australia has decided to ban the use of social media by children under 16.
According to foreign media, on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said platforms like Facebook and TikTok are causing real harm to children, and these companies will be responsible for enforcing the age limit.
In case of violation, heavy fines will be imposed on them. “It’s for parents,” Albanese told reporters outside parliament.
Social media is causing real harm to children and I am taking action to stop it.
The new laws will be introduced to Parliament later this month after being presented to state and territory leaders this week.
Once the law is passed, social media platforms will be given a one-year grace period to devise ways to implement the ban.
He added that the onus of banning would not be on parents or children, but on social media platforms to demonstrate that they have taken appropriate steps to prevent access.
Albanese said, “Things come up on my system that I don’t want to see, so why should a sensitive 14-year-old see things like that?”
Australia is among the countries leading social media reform efforts, and its proposed age limit would be among the toughest for children.
