Australia bans social media for under-16s to curb addiction
It has become official. The Australian parliament has made an important decision: Social media will not be available to individuals under 16. This is intended for their well-being and to protect them from addiction.
29 November 2024 16:09
Social media accompanies us every day. Not only adults use it, but especially children and teenagers. This often leads to various addictions, as the younger generation wants to be online constantly so as not to miss anything. Consequently, unfortunate situations sometimes arise where children cannot live without a phone and regular access to Instagram or TikTok.
Social media not for teenagers
The Australian parliament announced some time ago that it has decided on social media. The discussion was lengthy, focusing on ensuring that young people do not have access. There were often arguments and tensions among politicians, as not everyone agreed that children shouldn’t use Instagram or TikTok until they reach a certain age. Fortunately, an agreement was reached. Parliamentarians have informed the public that an important decision has been made.
Social media platforms have been given a year to implement a system for verifying users' ages before facing potential penalties. Enforcement methods for this new requirement will begin testing in January, with the regulations coming into effect one year later. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to £27 million for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
