Australia passed a law last night aimed at banning the use of social networks for people under the age of 16. A measure which makes the country one of the strictest in the world in this area but which still receives broad support locally, despite doubts regarding its implementation.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Australia, Leo Roussel
This Friday, November 29 in the morning, in front of the Inner Sydney High School, located in the heart of Sydney (Australia), many students browse social networks before going to class. Within a year this will no longer be possible, because Parliament has just adopted a law prohibiting access to social networks to people under 16 years old.
Beau, aged 14, understands this measureeven if he considers that it will be binding: “ I think it’s a fair measure but it will also be difficult for certain things like communicating with our friends when we are not with them. »
It’s a relief
If messaging applications like WhatsApp or even video applications like YouTube should remain accessible, the platforms Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, X or even TikTok should be prohibited. For Tara Amin, who came to drop off her 13-year-old son at high school this morning, it’s a relief: “ Despite all the advice we give our children, these platforms remain major places of harassment. We welcome this initiative, we are sure that it will have a very positive impact. »
Like Tara, 77% of the Australian population is in favor of the ban social networks for those under 16 according to a survey published Thursday, November 28. It now remains to be seen how social networks will put in place sufficient measures to prevent access to their platforms.
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