social networks
Melbourne: Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland introduced a bill in Parliament on Thursday to ban children under 16 from using social media. If the bill becomes law, it will be the first law of its kind in the world. Roland said ensuring children’s safety online has become a big challenge for parents. He said the bill provides for a fine of up to 50 million Australian dollars (about 33 million US dollars) on social media platforms for failing to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts, including TikTok, platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram included.
The bill has political support
“This bill seeks to set a new standard in society that access to social media is not a defining characteristic of growing up in Australia,” Rowland told Parliament. “There is widespread public opinion that immediate measures must be taken to prevent children and adolescents from having unlimited access to ‘uncut’ content available on the Internet.” This bill has broad political support. Once the bill becomes law, social media platforms will have one year to implement age restrictions.
Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland
Social media can be harmful
Rowland said: “Social media can be harmful for many young people in Australia. Almost two-thirds of Australian children aged 14 to 17 have viewed extremely harmful content online, including content related to drug abuse, suicide, violence or self-harm. “A quarter of children have seen material that promotes bad eating habits.” Rowland, citing government research, said 95 per cent of Australian parents consider online safety one of the biggest challenges in raising children.
social networks
What did Elon Musk say?
However, ‘X’ owner Elon Musk has raised questions about this bill. “(This bill) appears to be a behind-the-scenes attempt by Australians to control internet access,” he said in a post. Australia is also working on measures to prevent children under 18 from accessing pornographic material available on the internet, according to a government statement. (Language)
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