First country only allows social media from the age of 16!
Australia - The Australian government has now got serious and is the first country to pass a law that will only allow children and young people to access social media from the age of 16.
As the Daily Mail reports, young Australians will only be able to use social media freely until the end of next year - after which they will be denied access under new legislation.
The Australian Senate passed the legislation late Thursday night (local time), which will ban under-16s from using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
With this step, the government wants to protect the mental health of young people as well as ensure their safety online.
Australia is the first country in the world to implement such a ban.
High fines for social media companies in breach of the law
Under the new law, social media giants face fines of up to 50 million dollars (around 30.8 million euros) if they do not take measures to keep children under the age of 16 off their platforms within the next twelve months.
However, opinions on the law are divided. Critics complain that it overlooks the positive aspects of social media. Platforms such as Instagram or TikTok offer young people not only entertainment, but also an opportunity to express themselves creatively, socialize and exchange ideas with others.
The law has attracted worldwide attention and could serve as a model for other countries that want to improve the protection of children and young people online.