By A Correspondent

Australia has made history by approving the world’s strictest social media laws, banning children under 16 from using these platforms. The ban, which won’t take effect for at least 12 months, aims to protect young people from the “harms” of social media, a concern echoed by many parent groups ¹.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the legislation is designed to give kids a childhood and provide parents with peace of mind. However, critics argue that the ban raises unanswered questions about its impact on privacy and social connection.

The new law is unprecedented, setting the minimum age for social media use at 16, with no exemptions for existing users or those with parental consent. Tech companies that fail to comply with the ban risk facing fines of up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) ¹.