Australia bans social media for under-16s to curb addiction
It has become official. The Australian parliament has made an important decision: social media will not be available to individuals under the age of 16. This measure is for their well-being and to protect them from addictions.
We live in a time when social media is a daily companion. Not only adults use it, but especially kids and teenagers. This often leads to various addictions, as the younger generation wants to be online all the time to ensure they don’t miss anything. Because of this, challenging situations sometimes occur where kids find it difficult to live without a phone and regular access to Instagram or TikTok.
Social media not for teenagers
The Australian parliament has made a decision regarding social media, which was announced some time ago. The debate about social platforms lasted quite a while. It centred on ensuring that young people do not have access to these platforms. Discussions often led to arguments and tensions among politicians. Not everyone agreed that kids shouldn’t use Instagram or TikTok until they reach a certain age. Fortunately, an agreement was reached. Parliamentarians have informed the public that a crucial decision has been made.
"The platforms, which bear sole responsibility for enforcement, have one year to figure out how to implement the age limit, which is the highest set by any country. If there are systemic failures to keep children from having accounts, the platforms are liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (46 million Canadian dollars)," NBC News reports.
