gstar28 Australia to ban children under 16 from social media – prime minister

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese talks at the Wishing Tree at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday, November 6, 2024. – Australia will move to pass new laws banning children under 16 years old from social media, Albanese said Thursday, vowing to crack down on tech companies failing to protect young users. Albanese said the new laws would be presented to state and territory leaders this week, before being introduced to parliament in late November. (Photo by TRACEY NEARMY / Agence France-Presse)

SYDNEY  — Australia will move to pass new laws banning children under 16 years old from social media, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday, vowing to crack down on tech companies failing to protect young users.

“This one is for the mums and dads. Social media is doing real harm to kids and I’m calling time on it,” he told reporters.

Albanese first mooted a social media age limit earlier this year, but it is the first time he has put a firm number on it.

Article continues after this advertisement

Tech giants and social media platforms will bear the responsibility for ensuring users are old enough, Albanese said, rather than parents who were “worried sick about the safety of their kids online”.

FEATURED STORIES TECHNOLOGY Japan launches the world’s first wooden satellite into space TECHNOLOGY Capture every moment with vivo V40 Lite 5G’s 50MP main camera and AI Aura Light TECHNOLOGY How to develop a growth mindset in students

“The onus will not be on parents or young people. There will be no penalties for users.”

READ: Australia government urged to ban gambling ads

Article continues after this advertisement

Earlier proposals to introduce a social media age limit have enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Australia.

Albanese said the new laws would be presented to state and territory leaders this week, before being introduced to parliament in late November.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.gstar28

TOPICS: Australia, ban, Children READ NEXT Australia to ban children under 16 from social media – prime... CICC warns vs text scam that sneaks into legit message threads EDITORS' PICK Nintendo Switch games will be playable on new console Trump claims victory over Harris in US presidential election 12 standout works at Art Taipei 2024 LTO names driver, owner of SUV with No. ‘7’ plate Harvard study shows Filipinos better prepared for disasters PBA Finals: ‘No excuses’ for Ginebra after crushing Game 5 loss MOST READ Comelec: 12 more bets file COCs for BARRM polls LTO names driver, owner of SUV with No. ‘7’ plate Trump’s mass deportation plan – and who wants to stop him Trump’s decisive victory in a deeply divided nation Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments