Australia's 'World-Leading' Social Media Ban for Kids

Australia is set to introduce legislation banning social media use for children under 16, a move Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describes as 'world-leading' to protect young people's mental health. The proposed laws would impose stringent age verification systems and cover platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, with no exceptions for parental consent, marking a global first in such regulations. The legislation has bipartisan support and aims to come into effect 12 months after being passed. While the government prioritizes youth safety, critics, including those from Meta, argue that the ban overlooks parental choice and responsibility. Families affected by online harms, such as sextortion, support the move, urging tech companies to take more accountability. Social media firms face significant penalties for non-compliance, while the legislation allows exemptions for platforms like YouTube Kids that serve educational purposes.