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Australia Bans Social Media Use for Children Under 16

HeadlineDec 03, 2024

Australia has passed legislation banning social media use for children under 16 years old. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese touted the first-of-its-kind law as he spoke from Canberra Friday. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “World-leading action to make sure social media companies meet their social responsibility. Social media is doing harm to our children. … Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them.”

Platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram could be fined up to $33 million if they systematically fail to prevent users younger than 16 from having accounts. It’s unclear if the ban will affect ties between the U.S. and Australia. Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, blasted the ban as a “backdoor way” for the Australian government to control internet access. In response, Albanese said of Musk, “he has an agenda.”

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