(Adnkronos) –
Australia has passed the world’s first law banning children under 16 from using social media. The resolution implemented by the Canberra parliament is one of the most restrictive measures towards platforms such as X, Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook. The text, which received the green light from both houses of parliament and bipartisan support, will force platforms to take “reasonable measures” to prevent teenagers from having accounts. The new law was drafted in response to what the Labor Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, says is a “clear sign between the rise of social media and the damage to the mental health of young Australians”. Albanese – who has called social media “an engine of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators” – is now appealing to Australian parents to help enforce the measures. The prime minister would like young people to “get away from their phones and go to the football and cricket pitches, tennis and netball pitches, to the swimming pool”. But academics, politicians and advocacy groups have warned that the ban could backfire, pushing teens onto the dark web or making them feel more isolated. For their part, the companies – which risk fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (around 30 million euros) in case of non-compliance – have defined the measures as “vague”, “problematic” and “hasty”. —internazionale/esteriwebinfo@adnkronos.com (Web Info)
Published November 28, 2024
