Australia plans to strengthen laws banning children from social media
Summary
Australia plans to make its laws stronger to stop children under 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The current law, in effect since December 2024, has not worked well because many children are still using these platforms.Key Facts
- Australia was the first country to pass a law banning children under 16 from social media.
- The law started on December 10, 2024.
- Many children under 16 still have accounts on social media platforms despite the ban.
- The Australian government is reviewing if the ban’s rules and powers are strong enough.
- The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, may take legal action against social media companies for not doing enough to enforce the ban.
- If companies fail to remove accounts of young children, they can face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 34 million USD).
- Other countries like Britain, Canada, Brazil, and France are also working on similar age restrictions for social media.
- Studies show a large number of Australian teenagers still use social media platforms meant to be restricted.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.