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“This one is for the mums and dads,” Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as the country introduced new legislation that will see children under 16 banned from social media later this month.
The ban is part of the Labor government’s plan to target large technology companies, which Albanese blames for deteriorating mental health and the surge in misinformation.
Children found using the app will not be punished, so the onus falls on the likes of Instagram, TikTok and X to prevent them signing up.
The government said it’s up to the tech companies to set up their own processes to verify users’ ages, and platforms that don’t comply face potential fines.
The law isn’t perfect but it is needed, Albanese argues, pointing to alcohol restrictions that don’t prevent underage drinking.
