Australia First Nation to Ban Social Media for Under-16s

• Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, effective Wednesday.
• The ban applies to major platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, with fines up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance.
• The move is being closely watched globally by other countries considering similar age-based restrictions.
• While criticized by tech companies, the ban was praised by parents and child advocates.
• Most platforms plan to comply using age inference, estimation, or ID verification methods.

Why It Matters: Australia's ban signals a global shift in how governments regulate Big Tech.