Australia passed a new fresh law on social media banning children under 16. This action debate gripped the nation and set a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.
The law forces the tech giants from the Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok to stop the minors. The minors who log in will face fines up to A$49.5 million the $32 million. This trial will be enforced starting in January, and that will go into effect from this year.
The social media minimum age will be the bill that sets Australia up as a test case for the growing numbers of the government.
Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age bill positions the country as a model for other countries. It has already enacted or has stated plans to enact age restrictions on social media due to worries about the impact these platforms have on youth mental health.
Several US states and France have enacted legislation restricting children’s access without parental consent. The Australian restriction is absolute. Florida’s complete prohibition on children under 14 is being contested in court on the grounds of free speech.
The law’s passage followed a long last day of Australia’s parliamentary year. It represents a political victory for center-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. They face a 2025 election in the face of declining polling. According to recent polls, 77% of people supported the prohibition, despite resistance from some child rights organizations and privacy advocates.
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, the nation’s largest newspaper publisher, spearheaded a campaign called “Let Them Be Kids” to support the ban. Following the parliamentary investigation through 2024 that can be heard through testimony from parents of children who had self-harmed as a result of bullying on social media. How did you expect the kids to react after banning? Comment and share your opinion. For news & daily updates you can also follow allbusinessinsider.
