Australians back national social media ban for children younger than 16

The government leaders had been discussing for months setting a limit, considering options from 14 to 16 years of age

A teenage girl uses her phone to access social media in Sydney (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia’s states and territories on Friday unanimously backed a national plan to require most forms of social media to bar children younger than 16.

Leaders of the eight provinces held a virtual meeting with prime minister Anthony Albanese to discuss what he calls a world-first national approach that would make platforms including X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook responsible for enforcing the age limit.