The major parties backed the bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts.

Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date.

Australian bill bans children under 16 from social media, holding platforms accountable for underage users with hefty fines.

The major parties’ support all but guarantees the legislation will be passed by the Senate.

Australia’s House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years from social media.

MELBOURNE, NOVEMBER 25: An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee Monday that laws to ban children younger than 16 from