North News

Chandigarh, November 29

Australia has become the first country to legislate a ban on children under 16 using social media platforms, with new laws mandating age verification. The move, spearheaded by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, aims to address what he described as a “clear, causal link” between social media usage and declining mental health among young Australians, UK-based news outlet The Guardian reported.

The legislation, passed this week, requires platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to enforce age restrictions by early 2025. Social media companies will have a year to comply, with penalties for non-compliance reaching up to AUD 50 million for repeated violations. According to the government, the measure is a vital step to protect children, but critics, including social media giants and industry experts, have raised concerns. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, criticized the rushed nature of the legislation, arguing it disregarded existing safeguards and lacked proper consultation with stakeholders. A Meta spokesperson called for clearer rules and consistency across platforms.

Elon Musk, owner of platform X, formerly Twitter, described the ban as a potential “backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.” Others worry the policy could lead to excessive collection of personal data to verify users’ ages, raising privacy concerns.

The law has drawn mixed reactions from parents, experts, and advocacy groups, highlighting a global debate about balancing child safety and digital freedoms.