Australia Passes World-First Social Media Ban for Children Under 16
By enacting legislation prohibiting minors under the age of sixteen from using social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and TikTok, Australia has made history. With a vote of 34-19, the Senate passed the bill Thursday, imposing fines of up to $50 million ($33 million) on platforms that do not prohibit the creation of accounts by minors.
By a vote of 102–13 earlier this week, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives. It is anticipated that the Senate would adopt the legislation's changes, which contain stronger privacy measures. The new rule prohibits platforms from requiring digital identity through government systems or government-issued identification documents like driver's licenses or passports to verify age.
Before sanctions are imposed, social...