Australia becomes first country to ban social media for children

Australia has become the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Google YouTube, Instagram and Facebook from midnight.

Ten of the biggest platforms were ordered to block children from midnight on Wednesday (1300 GMT on Tuesday) or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) under the new law, which drew criticism from major technology companies and free speech advocates, but was welcomed by parents and child advocates.

The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on children's health and safety.

In a video message that Sky News Australia said would be played in schools this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the ban aimed to support young Australians and ease the pressure that can come from endless feeds and algorithms.

"Make the most of the school holidays coming up. Rather than spending it scrolling on your phone, start a new sport, learn a new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there for some time on your shelf," he said.

The rollout ends a year of speculation about whether a country can block children from using technology embedded in modern life.

It also begins a live experiment that will be studied globally by lawmakers frustrated by what they say is a tech industry too slow to implement harm-reduction measures.

Governments from Denmark to Malaysia - and even some states in the U.S., where platforms are rolling back trust and safety features - say they plan similar steps, four years after a leak of internal Meta documents alleged the company knew its products contributed to body image problems among teenagers. 

Meta has said it has tools to protect children. The ban initially covers 10 platforms, but the government said the list would change as new products emerge and young users switch to alternatives.—Reuters