Australia to Limit Kids' Social Media Access at 16

You might be surprised to learn that the Australian government wants to ban kids under 16 from using social media. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thinks social media is harming kids, so he wants a new law. This law, to be discussed in Parliament starting November 18, would make it tough for kids under 16 to use social media. Services like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X would have to find ways to stop underage users. If they don't, they could face penalties. The ban would start a year after the law is passed. Many parents are worried about their kids' safety online.

But not everyone is happy about this plan. Over 140 experts think a ban won't solve the problems of social media. Some say we should teach kids how to use social media safely instead. A child psychologist, Philip Tam, thinks a ban might just make kids use social media secretly. The government has been testing age-restriction tech this year. They hope this will help them figure out how to make the ban work.

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