Lower house of Australian Parliament approves ban on social networks for teenagers

By Alimat Aliyeva

The House of Representatives of the Australian Federal Parliament has approved a bill proposed by the government to ban social media access for individuals under 16 years of age, Azernews reports.

According to the information, the bill was approved by 102 out of 115 members of parliament. The 13 lawmakers who voted against the government's proposal included all members of the Green Party faction, as well as a number of independent deputies. The draft is expected to be submitted to the upper house in the coming days, where it is likely to also receive the support of a majority of senators.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who personally presented the bill to parliamentarians, expressed confidence that it would receive "unconditional approval" by the end of the week.

The bill proposes changes to existing legislation regulating internet safety, specifically amending it to prohibit access to social media platforms for individuals under the age of 16. If enacted, this measure would make Australia one of the first countries to introduce such an age limit for social media use on a national level.

The government has justified the bill as a necessary step to protect young people from the negative effects of social media, including cyberbullying, mental health issues, and exposure to inappropriate content. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the potential impact on freedom of expression and the practical challenges of enforcing such a ban.