News brief

Australia’s social media age limit. The Australian government announced Nov. 7 legislation that it would set an age limit of 16 years for children to start using social media and would hold platforms responsible for ensuring compliance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation will be introduced in Parliament this year and would take effect 12 months after it becomes law. The platforms including X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, will need to use that year to work out how to exclude Australian children younger than 16. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, says the company respects any age limitations the government wants to introduce.

Smartphones are robbing kids of their childhood. These communities are fighting back.