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Global leaders push for social media age restrictions to protect children
At the United Nations General Assembly, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reported that more than 20 countries are implementing or considering age restrictions on social media to protect children from digital risks. Albanese cited Australia’s own ban on social media for children under 16 as a catalyst for international action.
Other world leaders expressed similar concerns. French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a decline in the learning capacity of youth due to digital technology and called for stricter regulations. The European Union has proposed the KIDS Act, which would ban children under 13 from social media and limit features for those aged 13 to 15 to combat phone addiction and harmful content.
While several nations including Brazil, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the UAE, and Vietnam have already implemented restrictions, enforcement remains a challenge. Data from Australia suggests that despite bans, many teenagers continue to bypass restrictions. Experts argue that true protection requires addressing platform design, such as infinite scrolls and engagement-optimized algorithms, rather than relying solely on age-based account deletions.
Entities
Anthony Albanese · Big Brother Watch · Emmanuel Macron · European Commission · European Union · Meta · Snapchat · TikTok · United Nations · United Nations General Assembly
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 6 SOURCES] President Emmanuel Macron noted a decline in the learning capacity of youth exposed to certain digital technologies. samacharnama.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · bhaskarlive.in · www.mangalorean.com · morungexpress.com · +1 more
- [DISPUTED] The European Union has proposed a ban on social media, video sharing, AI chatbots, and online games for children under 15. theindianawaaz.com · www.world-today-news.com · www.euronews.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] More than 20 countries are implementing or considering age-related restrictions on social media. samacharnama.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · bhaskarlive.in · www.mangalorean.com · morungexpress.com · +3 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Brazil, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam have implemented social media restrictions for children. theindianawaaz.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The UN mission cannot be outsourced to the world's richest companies or dictated by the pace of technology. samacharnama.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Meta agreed to pay a fine for violating US federal and state child privacy laws regarding data collection and platform design. theindianawaaz.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Australia’s eSafety Commissioner reported restricted access to 4.7 million under-16 accounts following the social media ban. www.world-today-news.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] Australia has implemented a ban prohibiting children below the age of 16 from using social media. bhaskarlive.in · samacharnama.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · www.mangalorean.com · morungexpress.com · +3 more