The federal government has introduced new laws restricting children’s use of social media platforms, with those under 16 banned from using sites like TikTok and Instagram. However, the rules will not come into force for another year to allow companies time to comply. Mental health experts have mixed views on the ban, with some arguing it is necessary to protect children’s wellbeing.
New rules won’t come into force for another year to allow social media companies time to comply
Key points
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Children under 16 will be banned from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook
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The new rules will not come into force for another year to allow social media companies time to comply
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Mental health experts have mixed views on the ban, with some arguing that it is necessary to protect children’s mental health and wellbeing, while others believe that it may push young people into more isolated and less supported places
What’s in and what’s out from the federal government’s social media ban
According to the legislation, young people aged 13-15 can still access some online services, but only if they have parental consent. The new rules will not come into force for another year to allow social media companies time to comply.
Mixed views from mental health experts
Mental health experts have mixed views on the ban, with some arguing that it is necessary to protect children’s mental health and wellbeing, while others believe that it may push young people into more isolated and less supported places.
The bill was introduced to parliament last Thursday and was referred for a Senate inquiry the same day. Submissions to the inquiry closed on Friday, a three-hour hearing was held on Monday, and the report was tabled on Tuesday. Almost all the submissions raised concerns about the “extremely short” consultation period, the committee report noted.
“Legislation is a necessary tool, but it is not a panacea,” Labor senator Karen Grogan wrote.
The new rules will not come into force for another year to allow social media companies time to comply. The government argues that the ban is necessary to protect children’s mental health and wellbeing, but some experts have raised concerns about the potential impact on young people’s rights and freedoms.
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