Australia's House Passes Social Media Ban for Under-16s, with $33M Fines Pending Senate Approval

Nov 27, 2024, 12:14 AM

Australia's House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. The legislation, approved by a 102-13 vote, is now awaiting final approval by the Senate. The bill has received backing from a Senate committee, which also recommended that social media platforms should not require users to submit personal identification such as passports or digital IDs to enforce the ban. Companies failing to comply with the proposed law could face fines of up to $33 million. If enacted, this would represent a world-first law aimed at regulating social media access for minors.