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Australia is one step away from banning social media for under 16s

Australia is set to ban under 16s from using social media services after the Senate passed legislation. However, the effectiveness of the law and the platforms it will actually impact have yet to be determined.

The rules will not apply to health and education services, gaming platforms or messaging apps, nor those that don’t require an account. The government plans to assess various options in the coming months, but Rowland confirmed this week that platforms won't be able to compel users to submit a personal document (such as passport or driver license) to verify their age. France has tabled legislation to block users under 15 from social media without parental consent and it’s now pushing for the European Union to move forward with a similar undertaking across the entire bloc.

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