Australia's world-first social media ban for children has taken effect, with throngs of teenagers waking up to find their accounts have gone dark. Others tell BBC they have already snuck past barriers and will continue scrolling and posting freely until they are caught.
The new law means social media firms - including Meta, TikTok and YouTube - must take reasonable steps to ensure Australians aged under 16 don't hold accounts on their platforms.
The ban, eyed with excitement by global leaders and trepidation by tech companies, was justified as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms - though critics have argued blanket prohibition is neither practical nor wise.
This landmark policy has been one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pet projects, and speaking to media on Wednesday he said he believed it has the power to change lives around the world. This is a day in which my pride to be prime minister of Australia has never been greater, he said, flanked by parents and media figures who had pushed for the ban. This is Australia showing enough is enough.
Various governments, from the US state of Florida to the European Union, have been experimenting with limiting children's use of social media. But, along with a higher age limit of 16, Australia is the first jurisdiction to deny an exemption for parental approval in a policy like this - making its laws the world's strictest.
Countries like Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, Greece, and Brazil are among those who have said they're looking at Australia as a test case.
The Australian government has named 10 social media platforms as a start, including all of the most popular ones, but has also warned others it's coming for them next. Online safety regulator, Julie Inman Grant, said her agency will start checking compliance from Thursday. Parents and children won't be liable under this law, only social media firms, which face fines of up to A$49.5m ($33m, £24.5m) for serious breaches.
Polling shows the ban is wildly popular with parents, who hope it will also help reduce cyber bullying and child exploitation. However, it is far less popular with children.
Backed by some mental health advocates, many have argued it robs young people of connection - particularly those from LGBTQ+, neurodivergent or rural communities - and will leave them less equipped to tackle the realities of life on the web.
Critics have been advocating instead for better education and more moderation, with many experts concerned that kids will work around the ban easily.
The government, while firm in implementing the ban, acknowledged it won't be perfect. Ms Inman Grant stated that Australia is playing the long game and noted that regulatory success is in the discussion and implementation of the ban, even amidst challenges. The world may watch and follow as Australia takes these strides in youth online safety.
The new law means social media firms - including Meta, TikTok and YouTube - must take reasonable steps to ensure Australians aged under 16 don't hold accounts on their platforms.
The ban, eyed with excitement by global leaders and trepidation by tech companies, was justified as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms - though critics have argued blanket prohibition is neither practical nor wise.
This landmark policy has been one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pet projects, and speaking to media on Wednesday he said he believed it has the power to change lives around the world. This is a day in which my pride to be prime minister of Australia has never been greater, he said, flanked by parents and media figures who had pushed for the ban. This is Australia showing enough is enough.
Various governments, from the US state of Florida to the European Union, have been experimenting with limiting children's use of social media. But, along with a higher age limit of 16, Australia is the first jurisdiction to deny an exemption for parental approval in a policy like this - making its laws the world's strictest.
Countries like Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, Greece, and Brazil are among those who have said they're looking at Australia as a test case.
The Australian government has named 10 social media platforms as a start, including all of the most popular ones, but has also warned others it's coming for them next. Online safety regulator, Julie Inman Grant, said her agency will start checking compliance from Thursday. Parents and children won't be liable under this law, only social media firms, which face fines of up to A$49.5m ($33m, £24.5m) for serious breaches.
Polling shows the ban is wildly popular with parents, who hope it will also help reduce cyber bullying and child exploitation. However, it is far less popular with children.
Backed by some mental health advocates, many have argued it robs young people of connection - particularly those from LGBTQ+, neurodivergent or rural communities - and will leave them less equipped to tackle the realities of life on the web.
Critics have been advocating instead for better education and more moderation, with many experts concerned that kids will work around the ban easily.
The government, while firm in implementing the ban, acknowledged it won't be perfect. Ms Inman Grant stated that Australia is playing the long game and noted that regulatory success is in the discussion and implementation of the ban, even amidst challenges. The world may watch and follow as Australia takes these strides in youth online safety.
