Social Media Ban For Under-16s: Australia's House Of Representatives Passes Bill

Australia is moving closer to banning social media for children under 16 as the country's House of Representatives has passed the significant bill. The bill was passed in the Parliament's lower house with 103 votes in favour to 13 votes against. It will move to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass with the support of major parties in Australia.

The bill would make social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, X, and Instagram, liable for fines of up to $33 million for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts. The platforms would have a year to figure out how to apply the age restrictions before the penalties are imposed if the bill becomes law this week.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly argued that excessive use of social media poses risks to the physical and mental health of children and is looking for support from parents. According to Reuters, Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce the ban. At the same time, tech companies including Google and Meta said that the ban should be delayed until a trial of age-assurance technology is completed.