The Australian government is working on a draft law that would ban the use of social media for those under the age of 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday, adding that the legislation is expected to be the first in the world to enter into force at the end of next year.

"Social media is harming our children and I will put an end to it," promised Albanese, who justified the move at his press conference by saying that social media endangers children's physical and mental health, bringing up body image disorders for girls and misogynistic content for boys, for example .

"If these contents reach a 14-year-old child, who is currently at a sensitive, changing age, it is very burdensome for him, we have a duty to notice this and act"

explained the prime minister.

The government is currently investigating the appropriate method of age verification, biometric and government identification are also being tested, but they have not yet decided on either.

The draft law will be submitted to the parliament by the government this year, and it could enter into force a year after its adoption, Albanese added.

The law is also supported by the opposition Liberal Party.

It was announced at the press conference that there will be no exceptions to the 16-year age limit.

Albanese emphasized that the onus is on the social media platforms to block access, not the children or parents.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland highlighted that a

The first law in the world to come into force in Australia forbids the use of Instagarm, Facebook, X and TikTok for those under 16, but YouTube has also been mentioned.

In a statement, the Digital Industry Group, which includes Meta, TikTok, X and Google, warned that the law would encourage young people to turn to the "dark", unregulated part of the internet while falling victim to from a support network.

"Preserving the safety of young people on the Internet is a primary concern, but at the same time, banning teenagers from digital platforms is a XX. century answer to the XXI. to the challenges of the century"

- argued Sunita Bose, managing director of DIGI, who instead of banning, suggested developing the digital literacy of young people and arming them against harm.

Banning children from social media has already been proposed in many countries, the Australian draft law being one of the strictest.

Last year, France initiated a ban on the use of social media by children under the age of 15, but this ban can be lifted with parental permission.

For decades, technology companies in the US have been required to obtain the data of children under 13 only with parental permission, so most social media platforms cannot be accessed by children under 13 without parental approval.

MTI

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