Australia to Legislate Against Social Media Use for Children, Announces Prime Minister

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the government will legislate to restrict children’s use of social media by the end of this year. According to foreign news agencies, Albanese stated that the Australian government plans to impose a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16.

In a recent statement, Albanese revealed that before finalizing the legislation, a trial will be conducted to verify the ages of children. He noted that while the exact minimum age for social media use has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the age will be set at either 14 or 16 years.

Albanese expressed his personal belief that all children under the age of 16 should be prohibited from using social media. He emphasized his preference for seeing children engaging in activities like swimming and sports rather than being on social media platforms.

The Prime Minister further elaborated that the goal is to encourage children to have real-life interactions with those around them, citing concerns about the negative social impacts of social media.

This legislative move is part of a broader initiative to protect children from potential online harms and ensure they have opportunities for physical and social development in real-world settings.