Australia began enforcing its social media ban for under-16s on Wednesday, in a world first that is being closely watched by other countries amid growing concern over the effects of the addictive technology on mental health.
Initially the ban affects Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, Google’s YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Reddit, Twitch and X, but the Australian regulator has said other platforms could be added as conditions change.
Platforms are required to take reasonable means to ensure Australian under-16s are not holding accounts on their services, or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (£24.7m) per month.
‘Proud day’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a “proud day” for families and told ABC News that “Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies”.
“New technology can do wonderful things but we need to make sure that humans are in control of our own destiny and that is what this is about,” said Albanese.
In a video message that local media outlets said would be played in Australian schools this week, Albanese urges children to “start a new sport, new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there for some time on your shelf”, as the country’s summer break begins this month.
Denmark, France, Malaysia and New Zealand are among the countries that have said they are considering similar laws.
Teething issues
Communications minister Anika Wells said she expected the law to face teething issues at first, but that it could prevent younger generations from “being sucked into purgatory by the predatory algorithms described by the man who created the feature as behavioural cocaine”.
About 96 percent of Australian teenagers under 16, or more than one million of the country’s population of 27 million, have social media accounts, according to the government’s eSafety Commission.
