Australia's child social media ban has closed 5 million accounts
Australia's ban on under-16 social media closed about 5 million accounts, and France, Brazil and Indonesia followed.
Australia's ban on social media for under-16s has closed roughly 5 million accounts and prompted other countries to adopt similar rules. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is taking the push further, announcing plans to legislate a digital duty of care and rules letting users opt out of powerful recommendation algorithms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is heading to the United Nations this week to promote Australia's approach as a global model for protecting children online. Polling shows two-thirds of Australians (66 per cent) support opt-out requirements for algorithms, with only 13 per cent opposed.
Albanese will meet Apple's Tim Cook during the trip to discuss the tech industry's role.
- 5 million
- Accounts closed
- 66 per cent
- Australians supporting opt-out rules
- France, Brazil, Indonesia
- Countries following Australia
- Tim Cook
- Meeting this week
Why it mattersAustralia's aggressive stance on social media harms is shaping how the world regulates big tech's power over young people and public discourse.
AustraliaAustralian children under 16 remain barred from major social media platforms, and new digital duty rules may soon require platforms to prove they are managing foreseeable harms.
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