No social media for Australian kids? Here’s why – Check out age limit, other deets

Social media ban in Australia:  Australian government plans to legislate a ban on social media for children under 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese anunced on Thursday, labelling it a “world-leing” measure expected to become law by late next year.

In an effort to prevent children from accessing social media platforms, Australia is trialling an -verification system, part of what Albanese described as some of strictest digital controls in world.

Social media is harming our kids, says Australian PM 

"Social media is harming our kids, and it's time to dress it," Albanese stated in a press conference, highlighting concerns about effects of social media on children’s mental and physical health. 

Albanese cited specific risks, including impact on girls’ body im and exposure to misogynistic content targeting boys. “For a 14-year-old navigating a complex time in life, being exposed to such content can be extremely challenging. We’re listening, and we’re acting,” he ded.

Highest limit for social media in world

This proposed policy includes stringent measures t seen elsewhere, such as highest limit set by any country for social media access, with allowance for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. verification methods under consideration include biometrics and government identification.

proposed legislation, supported by opposition Liberal Party, is expected to be introduced into Parliament later this year, with laws coming into effect 12 months after approval.

Meta, TikTok, X to be affected

responsibility for enforcing ban will rest with social media platforms, t parents or young people, according to Albanese. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland ted that platforms likely to be impacted include Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Bytedance’s TikTok, Elon Musk ’s X, and Alphabet’s YouTube.

While TikTok declined to comment, or major companies, including Meta, Alphabet, and X, have t responded. However, Digital Industry Group, representing companies such as Meta, TikTok, X, and Google , warned that measure could push young users to more unregulated areas of internet, potentially cutting m off from valuable support networks. 

DIGI’s Managing Director Sunita Bose called for a more “balanced approach,” stressing importance of -appropriate digital s and education to dress online harm.

Similar efforts have been me globally, with France proposing a ban on social media for those under 15 last year, though with an exemption for parental consent. In United States, a longstanding law requires parental consent for techlogy companies to collect data on users under 13, which has led most platforms to restrict access for younger children.

(With Reuters inputs)