Australia plans social media ban for children under 16

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North News

Chandigarh, November 7

The Australian government is set to introduce “world-leading” legislation aimed at banning children under 16 from accessing social media. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposed laws, which will be introduced in parliament next week, in an effort to reduce the harm social media is inflicting on Australian children, according to the BBC.

While specific details are still under discussion, the government clarified that the new regulations will not affect young people already using social media platforms. The proposed legislation will enforce a 16-year age limit for social media access, with penalties for platforms that fail to comply.

However, questions remain about how platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will enforce the age limit. The Albanese government has not provided clarity on whether social media companies will use biometric scanning or government databases for age verification. There are also discussions around applying age checks to all users, regardless of age, the news outlet The Guardian pointed out.

The legislation faces pressure from the opposition Coalition to fast-track approval, though a federal trial on age assurance technology has not yet started.