Sydney/ AFP Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed a global ban on social media for children under 16, citing the risks of mental and physical harm, as well as abuse. Speaking outside the Australian Parliament, Albanese stressed that platforms like Facebook and TikTok are causing real damage to children. He said, “This is for the parents; social media is genuinely harming our children, and I am asking for time to address this issue.”
As reported by AFP, the Prime Minister emphasized that technology companies will be required to implement age restrictions, with heavy fines imposed on underage users who find ways around these rules. Australia is at the forefront of efforts to protect children online, with the proposed age limit being one of the strictest measures globally.
The new laws are set to be presented to state and regional leaders this week, before being introduced in Parliament by the end of November. After approval, tech companies will be granted a year’s grace period to enforce age restrictions and develop compliance systems.