Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the country is “taking back control” from powerful tech giants with landmark laws banning children under 16 from social media.<\/p>\n
He said the move was “Australia showing enough is enough”, adding that it was about “our families taking back control”.<\/p>\n
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Australia has become the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access in a move welcomed by many parents and child advocates but criticised by major technology companies and free-speech advocates.<\/p>\n
Platforms falling within the legislation include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook were ordered to block children or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (\u20ac28.2m) under the new law, which is being closely watched by regulators worldwide.<\/p>\n
Mr Albanese called it “a proud day” for families and cast the law as proof that policymakers can curb online harms that have outpaced traditional safeguards.<\/p>\n
“This will make an enormous difference. It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced,” Mr Albanese said.<\/p>\n
In a video message, he urged children to “start a new sport, new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there for some time on your shelf,” ahead of Australia’s summer school break starting later this month.<\/p>\n
In the hours before the ban took effect, many of the estimated one million children impacted by the legislation began posting messages saying goodbye to their online followers.<\/p>\n
Read more:
Would an Australia-style social media ban for children work here?<\/a>
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