Sydney, Dec 10 (LatestNewsX) – Australia’s landmark rule banning social‑media accounts for anyone under 16 became active this Wednesday, touching ten widely used services such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X, which are now required to block users below the age threshold.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed students nationwide on Tuesday in a short video, explaining that the government introduced the measure to help children who have grown up surrounded by algorithms, endless feeds and the pressures that accompany them. He urged the youth to use their upcoming school holidays productively instead of spending hours scrolling on their devices. “Start a new sport, learn a new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there on your shelf for some time,” Albanese advised. “And importantly, spend quality time with your friends and your family. Face to face.”
In November, the federal legislature approved the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, demanding that selected platforms take “reasonable steps” to prevent under‑16s from registering, the Xinhua news agency reported. Firms that do not comply can be penalised with fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (roughly $32.8 million). No sanctions exist for minors who access age‑restricted content or for their guardians.
To date, the ban covers ten platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit. Authorities reserve the right to add or remove services as they see fit.
A recent survey found that 73 % of Australians back a social‑media ban, yet only 26 % trust it will succeed, and 68 % fear that youngsters will find ways around it. Teachers and parents lead the approval‑rate at 84 % and 75 % respectively, while support drops to 62 % among people aged 16–24, according to a poll released in early December by Pureprofile, a global data‑and‑insights firm based in Australia.
While most social‑media companies recognise the need to comply, many object to the initiative, citing difficulty in enforcement and the risk of steering young users toward more obscure parts of the internet. Reddit, a globally‑familiar online forum, announced on Tuesday that it would adhere to the law but criticised its “scope, effectiveness, and privacy implications.”
The Australian ban has sparked worldwide fascination, with countries such as Denmark, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia and New Zealand reportedly exploring comparable restrictions.
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