Australian House of Representatives Passes Bill to Ban Children Under 16 from Social Media
The Australian House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. The bill, once finalized by the Senate, would hold platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for failing to prevent young children from holding accounts.
The legislation, which received bipartisan support, aims to protect children online by enforcing age restrictions on social media platforms. Opposition lawmaker Dan Tehan emphasized the importance of the bill in improving people’s lives, even if it is not perfect.
However, critics of the bill argue that it was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny and could have unintended consequences, such as isolating children and depriving them of positive aspects of social media. Some believe the ban could drive children to more dangerous online spaces and discourage reporting harmful encounters.
The Senate is expected to finalize the bill on Thursday, the last session of Parliament for the year. Despite some opposition, the major parties’ support increases the likelihood of the legislation passing. The bill has received mixed reactions from lawmakers and the public, with some seeing it as a necessary step to protect children online, while others question its effectiveness and potential impact on privacy.
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Photo credit apnews.com
