Australia Plans Ban on social media usage for children, with a federal law likely to set a minimum age limit of 16 years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the initiative on Tuesday, stating that it aims to reduce children's screen time and encourage more non-recreational activities, such as sports. Albanese described social media as a "scourge" with negative impacts on youth and affirmed that the law will be drafted later this year. The Australia Plans Ban as a necessary step to promote healthier lifestyles among the younger generation.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese stated that the exact younger age at which kids will be allowed to use Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and other such platforms has not yet been set but it will be between 14 and 16 years. Albanese personally advocated for the removal of the access to these sites to the under 16s. In the next few months there will be testing of the age verification trials as the experts have cautioned that it will be very difficult to adopt such restrictions on the internet.

Australia Plans Ban on social media
Image Source: UPI

Albanese stated "I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts."We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm.” He further added "This is a scourge. We know that there are mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with.”

Peter Dutton, the leader of opposition also showed his support and said "Every day of delay leaves young kids vulnerable to the harms of social media and the time for relying on tech companies to enforce age limits.”

Toby Murray, an associate professor in computing and information technology at the University of Melbourne, stated that it remains uncertain whether the technology needed to effectively enforce these bans is currently available.He said "We already know that present age verification methods are unreliable, too easy to circumvent, or risk user privacy.”

Daniel Angus,the head digital media researcher at Queensland University of Technology showed concern and said an age limit ban would not be of any use for troubled children. He said “It threatens to create serious harm by excluding young people from meaningful, healthy participation in the digital world.”

Samantha Schulz, senior sociologist of education at the University of Adelaide said "There is logic in establishing boundaries that limit young people's access,However, young people are not the problem and regulating youth misses the more urgent task of regulating irresponsible social media platforms.Social media is an unavoidable part of young people's lives."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted how parents called on to take action against bullying and toxic content on social media platforms. During his radio interview, he stated “These social media companies think they're above everyone.Well, they have a social responsibility and at the moment, they're not exercising it. And we're determined to make sure that they do.”

Australia has been one of the first countries to embark on regulating these platforms after its online safety watchdog came into conflict with Elon Musk’s X over its policies on content.

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