Australia has become the first country in the world to ban children under 16 from using social media.
The move comes after the government expressed concerns about how social media negatively affects children's mental and physical health.
The law, passed on Wednesday, Nov. 28, requires social media companies like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X to take "reasonable steps" to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts.
However, apps for messaging, online gaming and educational services are not affected by the ban.
The new law will not punish children or parents who break the rules and instead place the responsibility on social media companies.
If social media companies fail to comply with the rules, they could face large fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (US$32 million).
"Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after the law was passed..
The legislation will come into effect in about a year, which will give social media companies time to set up systems to check children's ages.
However, the government has not yet explained how exactly the ban will be enforced.
The government has said it will use an unspecified age-verification technology, but, at the same time, social media companies cannot force children to give personal ID, like a digital ID, to prove their age, according to Times Of India.
Albanese, who has long advocated for the ban, said that the law will ensure that ”mums and dads can have that different conversation today and in future days."
The new law has received mixed reactions.
While 77% of Australians support the ban, some people say it is too harsh and won't solve the problems with social media. They say it might push children to use other parts of the internet that are less safe.
In addition, advocacy groups say the ban could stop vulnerable people, like those from the LGBTQ community or immigrant teenagers, from being able to find support online.
Australia’s law is one of the strictest in the world when it comes to children's access to social media.
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