Children banned from using social media for the first time in the world

Tengrinews.kz – A ban on the use of social media by children has come into force in Australia, becoming the first such measure in the world. Starting today at midnight local time, children under 16 in the country have been blocked from accessing platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and others, according to The Guardian.

User accounts belonging to individuals under 16 must be removed from TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, and Threads, which are now prohibited for minors.

The ten largest platforms have been ordered to block access for children from midnight Wednesday local time (19:00 Astana time on Tuesday), under threat of fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (33 million US dollars) in accordance with the new law.

All of the platforms mentioned, except X, confirmed by Tuesday that they will comply with the ban.

The new law has faced criticism from major tech companies and free speech advocates, but has been welcomed by parents and child protection groups.

The rollout of the ban has already encountered challenges. Guardian Australia reported several cases of users under 16 successfully passing facial age-verification tests, but the government stated it does not expect perfect results from day one.

Other countries are closely monitoring the ban and considering similar measures due to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children's health and safety.

Several countries, including Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway, have announced plans to introduce their own bans. The European Union has also adopted a resolution in favor of similar restrictions.

Kazakhstan has already drafted a bill that would prohibit users under 16 from registering on online platforms. The initiative is included in the draft law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts on Online Platforms and Mass Media,” developed by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

According to the draft, children under 16 in Kazakhstan will not be allowed to create accounts on most platforms, including video-hosting sites, social networks, and content platforms. The only exception is messaging apps.