A day after the Australian government on Thursday announced what it described as the world’s leading legislation that would require children to be at least 16 years old to use social media, Australia’s states and territories unanimously backed the national plan to require most forms of social media to bar children younger than 16.

Leaders of the eight provinces held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss what he calls a world-first national approach that would make platforms including X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook responsible for enforcing the age limit.

“Social media is doing social harm to our young Australians. The safety and mental health of our young people has to be a priority,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

The government leaders had been discussing for months setting a limit, considering options from 14 to 16 years of age. While Tasmania would have preferred 14, the state was prepared to support 16 in the interests of achieving national uniformity, Albanese said.

According to reports from AP, the legislation will be introduced into Parliament within two weeks, and the age ban will take effect a year after it passes into law, giving platforms time to work out how to exclude children.

The delay is also meant to provide time to resolve privacy concerns related to age verification.

According to reports, the main opposition party has given in-principle support to the 16-year age limit since it was announced on Thursday, suggesting the legislation will pass the Senate.

The minor Greens party was critical, saying the ban would prevent the emergence in Australia of future child environmental activists like Sweden’s Greta Thunberg.

Over 140 academics specialising in technology and child welfare signed an open letter to Prime Minister Albanese last month, arguing that a social media age limit is “too blunt an instrument” to effectively address the associated risks.

Critics argue that most teenagers are tech-savvy enough to bypass such laws, and some worry the ban could spark conflicts within families and push social media issues further underground.

Do Indian parents want the same?

Experts and parents in India told Times Now Tech that similar policies should be implemented to support the overall growth and mental health of children and teenagers in the country.

Pune-based entrepreneur Bindiya Mishra, a mother of two teenagers, strongly feels that similar measures should be implemented across India for the holistic development of children.

“The times that we live in Social media is an integral part of not only our lives but our children’s lives too. However, it’s crucial to shield young minds from the overwhelming influence of social media. When at this age children should interact among their peer groups and create a long-lasting bond with their friends, they are constantly glued to social media,” Mishra told Times Now Tech.

She even called out the need to promote creative thinking among children. Mishra said that kids are now dependent on AI to write simple essays.

“Instead of thinking and writing, they are generating the content. A childhood free from the distractions of social media allows for creativity, imagination, and the development of essential social skills,” she stressed.