Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s Sparks Divided Reactions

Australia's government has enacted a world-first social media ban for children under 16, set to begin enforcement trials in January and fully implemented in a year. The law mandates platforms like Meta and TikTok to block minors or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited the mental health risks to children as justification, emphasizing the need to protect them from harmful content.

While some Australians welcomed the move, seeing it as crucial for child safety, others, including tech firms, raised concerns about rushed legislation and potential unintended consequences. Critics argued it could drive children to riskier online behavior, while TikTok warned of increased dangers from unsupervised internet use.

Unlike similar regulations in France and parts of the U.S., Australia's ban is absolute and has been fast-tracked through parliament with bipartisan support. However, it has faced scrutiny for its expedited process and possible strains on international relationships, particularly with the U.S. Despite the backlash, Albanese insists the law is necessary to ensure children's safety, even if its implementation isn’t flawless.