Australia: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a ban on social media use for children under 16, aiming to protect young people’s mental health. Social media platforms will be required to enforce the restrictions or face potential fines.

Legislation to Hold Social Media Companies Accountable

Albanese confirmed plans to introduce new legislation this month, placing the responsibility on social media companies to restrict access for children under 16. “The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access. The onus won’t be on parents or young people,” he said. There will be no penalties for users, only for non-compliant platforms.

Part of Broader Measures Targeting Tech Giants

This age restriction is one of several new policies by Albanese’s centre-left Labour government to regulate tech companies, which the Prime Minister holds responsible for rising misinformation and mental health issues. Australia has previously challenged tech giants, including a 2021 push to make Facebook and Google pay for news content. More recently, the government sued Elon Musk’s X Corp. for failing to remove a video showing a terrorist attack in Sydney.

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Legislation Targeting Misinformation on the Horizon

In addition to age restrictions, the Labour government is working on new legislation to require social media platforms to curb misinformation and disinformation. Although the government has been in discussions with tech companies on enforcing age restrictions, it hasn’t clarified which platforms will be affected or provided specific details on enforcement or penalties. Albanese admitted that while this legislation may not entirely prevent underage use, it represents a significant step toward protecting young users’ mental health.

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