The Australian government has unveiled a plan to ban teenagers under the age of 16 from using social media, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In a statement made on Thursday, Albanese highlighted the detrimental effects social media has on young people, announcing that the government aims to protect children from its negative impacts. The proposed age restriction, which was approved by the Cabinet earlier this week, will be presented to the National Cabinet for final approval.
If the proposal is approved, the law will come into effect within 12 months, and there will be no fines for violations. A newly appointed safety commissioner will oversee the implementation of the law, ensuring that social media platforms take necessary measures to prevent access by children under the age of 16. The government’s focus is on holding social media companies accountable for safeguarding young users.
The proposal follows earlier statements by the prime minister, who indicated that the government would introduce a minimum age limit for social media use by the end of the year, with the debate initially centered around whether the age should be set at 14 or 16. The new policy aims to mitigate the harmful effects of social media on children and teenagers.
