South Australia Proposes Social Media Ban for Children

The South Australian government has proposed new legislation to ban children under 14 from accessing social media, requiring parental consent for 14 and 15-year-olds. Premier Peter Malinauskas emphasized the urgent need for such measures, likening social media to providing cigarettes to children and highlighting the mental health crises stemming from online addiction and bullying. The draft legislation, developed by former High Court Chief Justice Robert French, includes provisions for significant fines against social media companies that violate the rules and allows parents to sue for damages if harm occurs. Malinauskas criticized tech companies for avoiding responsibility, asserting that they profit from children's addiction. The bill, which is seen as potentially setting a precedent for other jurisdictions, would create a regulatory framework to enforce compliance and establish a duty of care for social media platforms. However, educators and experts express concerns about the practicality of enforcing such a ban among tech-savvy youth.