World’s First: No Facebook or Instagram for Children Under 16 in This Country

Sydney: Today brought a big change for Australia. The country has completely banned the use of social media for children below 16 years of age. It has become the first country in the world to do so. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a historic decision and claimed the change would give children back their childhood while also instilling safety in parents' minds.

What are the provisions in the new law?

From December 10, every social media platform will have to ensure that no Australian child under the age of 16 is present on their site or app. If any company breaks this rule, it may have to pay a fine of up to Rs 300 crore. Initially, the government has included 10 big platforms in this scope. These include all the popular apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. Rest of the companies have been given a clear warning that the next step may move towards them also.

Why did the government have to take this step?

Prime Minister Albanese has been saying for a long time that children need to be protected from harmful content and aggressive algorithms. According to him, social media companies have failed to keep children safe, hence this strict decision was necessary. On the other hand, tech companies say that ban is not the right approach. He believes that proper monitoring and digital education can be more effective than keeping children away from social media.

What is the reaction of children and parents?

Many children have said that instead of imposing a ban, the government should put pressure on social media companies to make their platforms clean. They argue that responsible use of social media should be taught, rather than access being blocked completely. A large number of parents are seeing this decision as a relief.

Are other countries of the world also going to do this?

Strictness regarding social media is not limited to Australia only. Norway is considering increasing the minimum age from 13 to 15 years. Denmark is also taking steps in this direction. Indonesia has also indicated that it may make major changes regarding the online safety of children. Britain is currently considering limiting children's screen time instead of increasing the age limit. However, the British government has clearly said that at present it is not in favor of imposing a ban like Australia.

Has America also done this?

The state of Florida had some time ago banned the social media accounts of children under 14 years of age. But a federal judge stopped it, saying it was against freedom of expression. After this decision, the debate on this issue is intense in America also.