Australia has passed a bill in the Senate, following approval in the House of Representatives, to ban social media use for children under the age of 16.
According to global news agencies, 102 members of the Australian Parliament voted in favor of the bill, while only 13 voted against it. As reported by the BBC, after passing in Parliament, the bill was presented to the Senate under the Australian Constitution, where it was approved with 34 votes in favor and 19 against.
After Senate approval, a security system will be established within one year to keep children away from social media. Social media platforms will also be required to ensure that children under 16 cannot access their sites.
In case of non-compliance, social media platforms could face fines of up to 32.5 million USD. According to the Associated Press, social media platforms that may be affected by this ban include Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
Experts argue that banning platforms like YouTube, messaging apps, and gaming apps could be challenging since they can be used without creating an account. Experts also note that children could easily bypass these restrictions using available VPNs.
Social media platforms, including Google and Snapchat, have expressed concerns about this ban and the heavy fines.
On the other hand, Australia says that this bill was passed after careful consideration, aimed at protecting future generations. The government also plans to address issues related to VPNs and other workarounds.
Australian lawmakers have stated that teachers, parents, and the entire community will need to play a role in implementing this bill. This is the first bill of its kind in Australia concerning a ban on social media.
