August M
A landmark Australian law barring children under 16 from social media has come into force, with the government declaring it a turning point in the country’s social and cultural life.
Officials say the measure is designed to shield young people from online harms and restore a sense of safety for families.
The reform, which took effect at midnight, is already drawing global attention as Australia positions itself as a pioneer.
Defining political moment
At a press conference in Sydney, DR News reports, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the ban as “world-leading” and said he had “never been prouder” to lead the country.
He argued the change would allow young people to “have their childhood” and give parents “greater peace of mind.”
Calling the move one of Australia’s most significant societal shifts, he said the nation had reached a point of “Enough is enough,” adding that other governments were watching closely.
Parents push for change
Albanese reserved special thanks for families who backed the legislation, including parents who lost children to harms linked to online bullying.
Their determination, he said, turned private tragedy into public advocacy aimed at preventing further trauma.
Communications Minister Anika Wells echoed that message, telling campaigners they had demanded that “children come before billion-dollar companies.” She highlighted accounts from families describing how social media had contributed to eating disorders, self-harm, and other serious harms, Dr News reports.
Heavy obligations on tech
According to Dr News, under the new rules, platforms must take “reasonable steps” to ensure users are at least 16 or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
The onus is on tech firms to develop age-verification systems considered robust enough to satisfy regulators.
Sources: DR News
