The Australian House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday (November 27) prohibiting children under 16 from using social media. The bill still needs final approval from the Senate. Once passed, Australia will become the first country globally to enact such a law.
According to reports by the Associated Press, the bill has received support from major political parties. The legislation covers platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram. If these platforms fail to prevent minors from registering accounts, they could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately 33 million USD).
The bill was approved in the House of Representatives with 102 votes in favor and 13 against. If the bill becomes law this week, these platforms will have one year to figure out how to implement age restrictions before facing fines.
The bill was submitted to the Senate on Wednesday evening local time, but the Senate adjourned a few hours later without voting on it. The bill is likely to be passed on Thursday (November 28), which is the last parliamentary session of the year and possibly before the election.