Australia has banned children under 16 from using social media. This is the first ban of its kind in the world, and many countries are observing the implementation of the new rules.
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As of December 10, people under 16 in Australia are currently banned from using major social media sites, including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. They cannot create new accounts and existing profiles are deactivated.
“It is Australia that leads the world. It is Australia that responds to what is a global issue,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told CNN. “We know that social damage is being done, so as a government we have a responsibility to respond to the requests of parents and also to the campaign of young people who say: just let us be children.”
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The ban on children using social media is a response to growing concerns about their mental health and online safety. The introduced ban arouses extreme reactions. Some see an opportunity to improve children's mental health, others fear the violation of privacy and freedom of speech.
Banning social media for children. Australia leads by example
As CNN explains, research shows that excessive use of platforms such as Instagram and TikTok can lead to increased levels of anxiety and feelings of isolation among young people. The Australian government wants to counteract these phenomena by focusing on the protection of the youngest Internet users.
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As CNN reports, the first days of implementing the new regulations were chaotic. Some children have been blocked, others still use social media. Tech companies such as Instagram and TikTok must now monitor user accounts and delete those belonging to people under 16.
Australia's e-safety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, announced that the platforms will be checked regularly and the monitoring results will be presented before Christmas.
