The Australian government has proposed a ban on children under 16 from using social media. The ban is expected to apply to services including TikTok, X, Instagram and Snapchat, though a full list has not been released. The legislation follows several high-profile cases of children taking their own lives citing online bullying and complaints from parents about the pressure their children face to be online. Many parents and pro-ban campaigners have lauded the bill as a long-overdue measure to hold tech companies accountable for the tools Australian children use online. However, critics say the proposed ban is a blunt instrument that will reduce teens’ access to support networks and create greater risks for those who defy the ban. CNN’s Hanako Montgomery has the report.
