Australia has enacted a law banning social media for under-16s, with strict penalties for platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, sparking debate over youth mental health versus privacy and access rights,

Most tech giants have said they will comply with the ban as the government has imposed a fine of up to $50m if they fail to do so

Australia’s controversial new law barring under-16s from social media is one of the toughest crackdowns yet on platforms including Facebook and TikTok as governments worldwide grasp for ways to protect children from harmful content.