Australia Forces Tech Giants to Obey: World's First Under-16 Social Media Ban Begins

Australia has started the world's first ban on social media for children under 16. The law began on December 10. For years, politicians and experts argued that social media companies failed to protect young people. Tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk often resisted new rules. They cited free speech and called regulation censorship. The Australian government decided that waiting for self-regulation was no longer an option. The new law requires strong actions from tech companies. These include robust age verification systems and special accounts for teenagers. The ban's main goal is to shield young people from online harm. It is still too early to know if it will improve children's lives. However, one effect is already clear. The law is forcing global technology firms to change. Governments are now using legal force to demand basic safety standards. This shows that moral arguments alone were not enough to make the companies act.