Australia Proposes Social Media Ban for Under 16s

Australia will soon implement a ban on social media for users under the age of 16, making it the first country to do so. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this 'world-leading legislation' in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children's mental health and safety, specifically highlighting issues like cyberbullying and online predation. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is urging the government to expedite the legislation's passage through Parliament before the Christmas holidays. While the law, expected to come into effect within 12 months, prohibits minors from holding accounts, it allows access in a logged-out state. The government faces challenges in enforcing the ban and ensuring compliance from social media platforms, which will be responsible for verifying users' ages. Experts have expressed support for the ban but have raised concerns about the practicalities of age verification on popular platforms.