Australia plans to strengthen laws banning children from social media
Anthony Albanese said 70% of children with pre-ban accounts were still using major platforms, as the government weighs tougher penalties and enforcement.
- On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to strengthen Australia's under-16 social media ban, citing mounting evidence that children continue accessing major platforms despite restrictions enacted last December.
- Evidence mounts that the ban is failing, as many children continue to access major platforms like Facebook and Instagram more than six months after the landmark restrictions took effect.
- Compliance reporting found about 70 per cent of children still hold accounts on restricted platforms, while Commissioner Julie Inman Grant described the legislation as a "very blunt force approach" lacking "potent powers."
- Albanese flagged new digital duty of care legislation holding platforms accountable for foreseeable harms, with fines reaching $49.5 million for breaches, and singled out "nudify" applications generating sexually explicit images.
- Britain and Canada are developing similar age-based restrictions, following Australia's pioneering role as the first country to enact such laws, with global adoption accelerating across multiple nations.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Associated Press News
Australia plans to strengthen laws banning children from social media
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government is giving priority to strengthening the world's first laws that ban children younger than 16 from social media platforms.
Sydney Morning Herald
‘We need to be courageous’: Albanese plans to go harder on teen social media ban
The prime minister flagged a fresh tightening of the world-first social media restrictions on Thursday amid growing concern about online pornography, “nudify” apps and violent material.
Australia Plans Stronger Social Media Ban for Youth as Usage Persists
Australia's prime minister has stated his intention to strengthen the nation's social media prohibition for young people, as a recent study indicates limited effect on teen usage. The measure, now six months old and the first of its kind globally, has seen a significant portion of its target demographic continuing to access platforms. This development follows concerns regarding youth mental and physical health, prompting international observatio…
Australia is tightening its ban on teens' use of social media after six months of measures have failed to change their behavior. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday (June 26) that he is considering stricter measures to ban teens' use of social media.
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