The first country to ban people under 16 from using social networks

The Australian Parliament passed the world's first law on November 28 banning people under 16 from using social media, according to CNN.

The Australian Senate approved the ban on social media late on November 28, after months of intense public debate and a rushed parliamentary process that saw the bill introduced, debated, and passed within a week, according to CNN.

Students using mobile phones are displaying social media apps in Melbourne, Australia, on November 28.

Under the new law, technology companies must take "reasonable steps" to prevent underage users from accessing social media services or face fines of nearly AUD 50 million (VND 826 billion).

This is the strongest response in the world to date on an issue where other countries have implemented restrictions but have not held companies accountable for violations of nationwide bans. The ban is expected to apply to social media platforms Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and X, but that list could be expanded.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told lawmakers that "every serious government" is grappling with the impact of social media on young people, and the leaders he spoke to welcomed Australia's initiative on the issue.

"We know that social media can be a weapon for bullying... a vehicle for scammers. And worst of all, a tool for online predators," Albanese told Australian MPs on November 25.

Defending the ban on social media for those under 16, the Albanese Prime Minister argued that people aged 16 and above are better able to detect "fakeness and dangers."

Before the bill was passed, tech companies raised concerns, pointing to arguments from opponents about privacy risks and dangers to children from circumventing the ban.

In that context, Company X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, stated that the platform "is not widely used by minors" but expressed concern about the law's impact on children's freedom of speech.

Meanwhile, Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, asserted that it has been steadily investing in tools to make these platforms safer and "strongly" recommended that the government wait for the results of age-testing trials, expected next year.

Meanwhile, surveys show Australians support legislation banning those under 16 from using social media. A YouGov poll conducted this month found that 77% of Australians support a ban for those under 16. The survey was conducted in the latter half of this month and polled 1,515 people, with a margin of error of 3.2%, according to CNN.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quoc-gia-dau-tien-cam-nguoi-duoi-16-tuoi-dung-mang-xa-hoi-18524112906522424.htm