Australia bans social media for under 16s due to mental health concerns
The world's most restrictive laws on social media will apply in Australia from late 2025.
The legislation places the onus on the companies themselves—rather than on parents or other responsible adults—to stop under-16s from setting up social media accounts, or face fines of up to AUD$49.5 million.
While the intent is good—and it could easily be argued that intervention to reduce risk is much needed—whether it will actually be effective remains to be seen and questions remain about how it will be implemented and monitored.
The ban doesn't affect online gaming or messaging, and access to services 'like Headspace, Kids Helpline, and Google Classroom, and YouTube' are also excluded.
For more information about the legislation go to the Prime Minister's press release.