The Australian Parliament has enacted legislation that bans social media access for individuals under the age of 16, marking one of the most stringent measures of its kind globally regarding prominent platforms.
The bill, which garnered approval from both houses of Parliament and received backing from major political parties, will soon mandate these platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent teenagers from creating accounts.
Noncompliance with this requirement could lead to fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (30.7 million euros).
Critics have characterized the legislation as “rushed,” “vague,” and “problematic.” Despite this, it passed the Australian Senate on Thursday by a vote of 34 to 19, following approval from the House of Representatives the previous day, making its implementation highly likely.
Center-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is preparing for elections early next year, has championed this legislation and called on parents to support the law for the benefit of their children.
