Australia
is the first country in the world to forbid children under the age of sixteen
from using social media. On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended
the new legislation. Although he acknowledged that it will be "bumpy"
at first, he said that it will ultimately save lives.
Ten
main platforms are required by law to prohibit users who are underage. YouTube,
Instagram, and TikTok are some of these platforms. Businesses that do not
comply risk hefty fines of up to $\text{A\$49.5}$ million.
Some
teenagers boasted about getting past the restriction as soon as it went into
effect. On the Prime Minister's TikTok, someone wrote, "I am still
here." But Mr. Albanese cautioned that such boasting reveals the
platforms' true identities.
In
order to safeguard youth, the government implemented the prohibition. Social
media poses major threats to their mental health. Bullying and issues with body
image are among these risks.
The
prohibition is already having an impact. According to reports, the number of
followers and views for content creators has significantly decreased.
Approximately 200,000 accounts belonging to minors have been deleted on TikTok
alone. Other nations, such as Denmark and France, are keeping a careful eye to
see if they should emulate Australia.
0 Comments