Australia’s lower house of Parliament passed a bill that would ban social media for children under 16, making it one of the toughest social media controls in the world. The bill aims to protect the physical and mental health of children by limiting their social media use. Social media platforms would be required to implement age-verification protections, and companies could face fines for breaches. The government plans to trial an age-verification system, potentially using biometrics or government identification.
While the bill has garnered support from the government and some conservative lawmakers, it has faced resistance from the left-leaning Greens and some far-right politicians who cite concerns about civil liberties and privacy. Technology companies like Google, Meta, TikTok, and X have pushed for the legislation to be delayed until further consultation can be conducted. The Australian Human Rights Commission has also opposed the ban, arguing that it infringes on children’s rights.
Despite opposition from some groups, public support for the ban is high, with a recent survey showing 77% of Australians in favor of the move. Media outlets in Australia, including the Australian Broadcasting Corp. and News Corp., have also voiced support for the ban. Advocates for the legislation argue that it is necessary to protect children from the negative impacts of excessive social media use, while opponents raise concerns about limiting children’s access to important social connections and rights to self-expression. The government aims to pass the bill by the end of the parliamentary year.
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