Australia Proposes Minimum Age for Social Media

Australia has introduced landmark legislation that will impose fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($32.5 million) on social media companies that fail to prevent children under 16 from accessing their platforms. Proposed by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, the bill places the responsibility of enforcing the age limit on social media companies rather than children or parents. The legislation has garnered broad political support and will provide a year for platforms to implement the necessary restrictions. While online gaming and messaging services are exempt from the ban, the bill aims to protect young Australians from harmful content they may encounter online. Critics have raised concerns regarding the feasibility of age verification and the potential for children to seek unregulated online spaces. The law is part of a growing trend among countries tightening regulations on children's access to social media.