Australian lawmakers have taken a major step toward banning children under 16 from using social media, with strict fines for companies that fail to follow the law. On Wednesday, the lower house of Australia’s parliament passed the proposed legislation, which will now be debated in the Senate.
The law targets platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, requiring them to take serious measures to stop under-16s from creating accounts. Companies that don’t comply could face hefty fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (about 32.5 million US dollars). However, social media firms have criticized the legislation, saying it is unclear, rushed, and filled with challenges.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who leads the centre-left government and is preparing for elections next year, has been a strong supporter of the proposed ban. He has urged Australian parents to back the initiative, highlighting the dangers of social media. According to him, these platforms fuel peer pressure, increase anxiety, and expose young people to scammers and online predators.
The Prime Minister argued that children should spend less time on their phones and more time engaging in sports and physical activities like football, cricket, tennis, swimming, and netball. He believes this move will improve the well-being of Australian kids.
Although the ban is one of the toughest worldwide, there are significant gaps in the details. The current version of the law does not clearly outline how the rules will be enforced. It may take at least a year before regulators finalize the implementation process and the law takes effect.
For now, the debate continues as lawmakers and social media companies work out the details of this controversial policy.
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