Australia launches world-first social media ban for under-16s

Australia is set to implement a world-first social media ban for children under the age of 16, coming into effect this week. The policy will target major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter), Twitch, Kick, and Threads.

The government’s aim is to protect young users from online risks by requiring these platforms to deactivate accounts for under-16s and prevent new sign-ups until users…