Australia Embraces Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

It’s official: no more social media for kids under the age of 16 in Australia. That might be easier said than done after the law passed in the country of 26.6 million, with questions lingering over how the new restrictions will be implemented. About a year from now, that age group will be banned from setting up accounts on TikTok, Instagram and other popular platforms. The backdrop here is a growing global debate over the potential harm that social media might pose for developing minds, articulated by Jonathan Haidt in his recent book, The Anxious Generation. There’s clearly strong support for the idea Down Under, where a survey released earlier this week showed 77% of the public in favor of the ban. Technology companies — which will be responsible for enforcing the new measure — describe the new law as unworkable.