Australia’s social media ban for young people takes effect
Update: 2025-12-10
Description
Australia has banned children under 16 from social media in a world-first, as other countries consider similar age-based measures amid rising concerns over social media’s effects on children’s health and safety. Under the new law, which came into effect at midnight local time on Wednesday (13:00 GMT on Tuesday), 10 of the biggest platforms face $33m in fines if they fail to purge Australian-based users younger than 16. The law has been criticised by major technology companies and free speech campaigners, but praised by parents and child advocates. The Australian government says unprecedented measures are needed to protect children from “predatory algorithms” filling phone screens with bullying, sex and violence. Al Jazeera’s Charles Startford reports. Lisa Given joins us now. She is a Professor of Information Sciences at RMIT University in Melbourne. She says under-16s are already signing up to social media platforms that are not included in the ban. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Australia #SocialMediaBan #Under16Ban #ChildProtection #BigTech #HumanRights #In-sideStory #AlJazeeraEnglish
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