These days, people spend a lot of time on Jaipur : Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, Snap Chat and other social media. Even small children are becoming addicted to it. Due to this the future looks bleak. Amidst the increasing interference of social media, there is now a demand in many places to curb it. Keeping this demand of the people, the government is going to make a new law regarding social media management. The most important thing about this law will be that after its implementation, children below 16 years of age will be banned from using social media. This entire exercise of cracking down on social media is being done for the first time in Australia.
In fact, Australia’s National Cabinet on Friday agreed to the government’s proposed social media law. This is the first law of its kind in the world – which sets the minimum age for access to social media in the country at 16 years.
Social media is causing harm to youth: Prime Minister
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “Social media is causing societal harm to our Australian youth and I call for a stop to it. The safety and mental health of our youth must be prioritized. My government will protect youth. Will make every possible effort for this, and will also provide support to those parents and teachers who are struggling with these issues.
The Australian Prime Minister said, “This legislation has been developed after extensive consultation with States and Territories, including consultation with parents, teachers, young people, academics, child development experts, industry and civil organisations, First The nation organisation, everyone was consulted from time to time because this is a difficult issue and we want to get it right.”
Albanese said, “Today we discussed with the Chief Ministers and Prime Ministers about banning phones in classrooms and the feedback received from it. When it was implemented, it was controversial for some people, but now it is having a very positive effect. Due to this order, students are focusing on the activities going on in their class and the children are playing with each other during lunch time instead of playing on their phones. This is a good thing.”
The Albanese government will introduce the legislation in the next parliamentary session, which will come into force 12 months after royal assent. This puts the onus not on parents or youth, but on social media platforms to take appropriate steps to ensure basic safety. The Australian Prime Minister said, “We will introduce legislation into Parliament in the next sitting week, we hope to get support for that legislation in the House of Representatives and the Senate.”
