Translated with AI
In Australia, a law banning the use of social media by individuals under 16 came into effect at midnight on December 10. The law, passed by the country's parliament in November 2024, aims to protect children and adolescents from cyberbullying, misinformation, and illegal content.
The ban applies to most major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Reddit, and X. However, the law does not apply to WhatsApp messenger, email, online games, or educational projects.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the law would help children have a fulfilling childhood, provide parents with peace of mind, and set an example for other countries.
Social media companies are held liable for non-compliance with the ban. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately 33 million US dollars or almost 30 million euros). However, underage users and their parents will not be subject to sanctions.
Critics of the Australian law point to its disproportionate nature and have already filed a lawsuit in the country's Supreme Court. Many experts believe that teenagers may simply switch to other services that are more difficult to control.
Similar initiatives to restrict access to social media for minors have previously been discussed in Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway. The European Parliament has also proposed similar restrictions. According to a poll in Germany, 77 percent of respondents said they would "fully" or "partially" support such a law.
