Australia on Thursday passed a world-first law banning social media for children under 16, Edum News reports.
The ban according to reports is following the passage of a groundbreaking law in the parliament.
According to the Labor Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who drafted the new law, it is a “clear, causal link between the rise of social media and the harm [to] the mental health of young Australians.
The law by the Senate prohibits platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, X, and Reddit from allowing users under 16.
YouTube was however excluded from the ban because of its educational content.
The decision according to the Prime Minister is because “We want our kids to have a childhood and parents to know we have their backs.”
The law further stated that companies found in violating would face fines of up to AU$50 million (US$32 million).
The decision has however sparked mixed reactions from the people of the country as some are applauding it while others are of the opinion that ‘kicking’ children out of social media will push them to dark webs and might even affect their mental health as some might begin to withdraw.
