Australia Logs Off
A new law passed in Australia on November 29. It will bar kids under 16 from using social media. They will still be able to use some social sites for educational reasons. But they’ll be banned from platforms such as TikTok and Facebook. When the law takes effect, these platforms must prevent young people from logging on. If they don’t, the companies will have to pay fines.
Anthony Albanese is the Australian prime minister. He supports the law. He told reporters, “Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them.”
Not everyone agrees with the law. Meta Platforms is the company behind Facebook and Instagram. In a statement, it called the law “rushed.”
Other countries have similar rules. In the U.S., many social platforms require users to be at least 13. But Australia’s law is unique. It requires social media companies to take responsibility for who creates an account. It’s the first law of its kind.
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