Australia has taken a historic step. The country has passed a law banning the use of social media for children under the age of 16. This is the world's strictest age limit for social media use. This will affect social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook (Meta), TikTok. Violation of this law will make them pay huge fines. This information is known from the report of Reuters.
Under the Social Media Minimum Age Bill, social media platforms have been forced not to allow children under the age of 16 to open accounts or log into their platforms. Violations of the law can result in fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million).
After the law is passed, Australia is becoming a new benchmark for other countries in the world. Some countries like France, the US have already proposed age limits for social media. However, Australia's measures are much stricter.
After the law was passed, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, 'We place great importance on protecting the safety and mental health of children. This legislation will create a safe and healthy online environment for our children.'
However, there is some controversy about this move. Some experts say this can reduce children's opportunities for social interaction and even raise questions about protecting their privacy. Privacy protection organizations and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the law. They believe the law could hurt children's online freedom and increase surveillance in the digital realm.
However, many parents have spoken out in favor of the law. Parents have been calling for more control over social media since a child committed suicide in August 2019 due to cyberbullying. Many families in Australia believe that such legislation will ensure the safety of children and improve their mental health.
The law will come into effect on a trial basis next January. Will be fully implemented later. If the law is successful in implementation, it will serve as a global model. Later other countries may also be encouraged to enact such laws.
Some experts believe that while the law will help ensure the safety of children, on the other hand, it may harm certain communities that participate in social media. The law could be a barrier, especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community who rely heavily on online communication.
Australia is showing the world the political will and strong legal framework needed to create a safe online environment for children. However, the outcome of this move is not yet certain. Because it has become a big challenge for the technology giants of the world.
