Social media ban for under-16s in Australia will soon be a world-first law

While the major parties support the ban, many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences

A social media ban for children under 16 passed the Australian Senate Thursday and will soon become a world-first law.

The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($46 million CAD) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts.