Australia's centre-left government has introduced a significant bill in parliament aimed at prohibiting children under the age of 16 from accessing social media. This legislative move reflects concerns over the impact of social media on youth and aims to improve online safety for minors.

The proposed ban is part of a larger bill that includes strict penalties for social media platforms. Consistent breaches of the new regulations could result in fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately $32 million). This initiative highlights the government's commitment to holding social media companies responsible for protecting young users from potential harm.