AUSTRALIAN SENATE APPROVES SOCIAL MEDIA BAN ON UNDER-16S

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The Australian Senate has passed a landmark law that bans children under 16 from using social media platforms. The bill, known as the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, was approved by the Senate with 34 votes in favor and 19 against ¹.

Under the new law, social media companies such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat will be required to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. The law also imposes fines of up to AUD 50 million (approximately USD 32.5 million) on platforms that fail to comply ².

The Australian government argues that the ban is necessary to protect the mental health and wellbeing of children. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that social media is having a negative impact on young people's mental health and anxiety ³.

However, not everyone is in favor of the ban. Some critics argue that it will be difficult to enforce, as children can easily use their parents' accounts or find ways to circumvent the ban. Others argue that the ban will deprive children of the benefits of social media, such as connecting with friends and accessing educational resources ⁴.

The law is expected to take effect a year after it is passed, giving social media companies time to implement the necessary changes to their platforms. The Australian government has also announced plans to establish a regulator to oversee the implementation of the ban ¹.

The ban has been welcomed by some parents and child safety advocates, who argue that it will help to protect children from the potential harms of social media. However, others have expressed concerns that the ban will be ineffective and may even drive children to use social media more secretly, potentially putting them at greater risk ².

Overall, the ban on social media for under-16s in Australia is a complex and contentious issue, with both supporters and critics presenting valid arguments. As the law comes into effect, it will be important to monitor its impact and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that it is effective in protecting the wellbeing of Australian children.

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