Teenagers under the age of 16 will be banned from social media under new laws. Image: ABC News
(The Post News)- The government’s new groundbreaking law, which has received support from both sides of parliament, will prohibit kids and adolescents from accessing social media starting at the end of next year.
This indicates that individuals who are younger than 16 will be restricted from accessing platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, a decision that the government and the Coalition believe is essential to safeguard their mental health and overall wellness.
The final vote concluded a chaotic evening in the Senate, during which the government successfully pushed through the majority of its legislative plans on the last day of the year with a full sitting.
Coalition senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic defied party lines to join the entire crossbench in voting against the laws, which garnered a variety of opinions from mental health professionals in a sudden Senate inquiry this week. Richard Colbeck, who is a liberal, chose not to vote.
A lively discussion lasting an hour occurred, where minor political parties challenged and disrupted the main parties regarding a hasty and imperfect law.
Liberal Member of Parliament Bridget Archer went against her party and voted alongside the Greens and a few independents to oppose the bill in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The legislation was swiftly passed by the main parties before the parliamentary year ended, despite concerns from Coalition MPs, the Greens, and independents who wanted more time and closer examination.
Tech companies also pushed for the discussion to be postponed until the completion of the government’s age-verification trial.
According to the new laws, which will not be enforced for another year, social media companies may face a fine of up to $50 million if they do not make efforts to keep users under 16 off their platforms.
Young people and parents will not face any consequences for breaking the rules. Social media companies will also not have the ability to.
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