Australia has passed a new law to help protect children’s mental health by banning social media use for people under the age of 16.
The law requires platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat to check the ages of their users to make sure children cannot access their services. If these platforms do not follow the rules for age verification, they could face large fines of up to AUD 49.5 million.
To protect privacy, the law does not require users to show government-issued IDs for age verification. This helps avoid privacy concerns. Some platforms, such as YouTube and messaging apps, are not included in this law, so they don’t need to follow the age restriction.
This law is seen as an important step to help reduce online bullying and prevent mental health problems that can arise from social media use among young people. By limiting access to these platforms for children under 16, the law aims to create a safer online environment for kids and teenagers.
The new rules are part of a larger effort to address the growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s well-being and to encourage healthier online habits. With these changes, Australia hopes to protect young users from harmful online experiences while still allowing access to platforms that are not part of the new law.
