Australia bans social media use for children under 16

Melbourne: Australia has become the first country in the world to prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media.

The landmark legislation was passed by the Senate with a vote of 37 to 19, following earlier approval in the House of Representatives by a margin of 103 to 13.

Under the new law, social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, face fines of up to AUD 50 million if they fail to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts.

While the House of Representatives has yet to ratify Senate amendments introduced by the opposition, government officials anticipate their approval as a mere formality.

Social media companies now have one year to establish mechanisms to enforce the ban.