Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the government would legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, a policy the government says is world-leading.
“Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese told a news conference.
Legislation will be introduced into parliament this year, with the laws coming into effect 12 months after it is ratified by lawmakers, he added.
There will be no exemptions for users who have parental consent.
“The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access,” Albanese said. “The onus won’t be on parents or young people.”
Get breaking National news
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said platforms impacted would include Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok and Elon Musk’s X. Alphabet’s YouTube would likely also fall within the scope of the legislation, she added.
–Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler
- TikTok must end business in Canada but app will stay available, Ottawa says
- Mysterious beach blobs in Newfoundland identified. What scientists found
- ‘I’m pissed’: Alberta premier, oil and gas industry slam Ottawa’s new emissions cap
- Ottawa to require oil, gas companies to cut carbon emissions by one-third
