A proposed ban, set to be voted on Thursday, will allow for companies to be fined if child users are found to be online.

An advocate for major social media platforms has told Australia's Parliament that a plan to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed rather than being rushed to approval this week.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee Monday that laws to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed until next year at least instead of being rushed through the Parliament this week.

TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram are among the platforms that would face significant fines for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts.

Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament to ban children younger than 16 from social media.

Legislation to create a world-first law banning children under 16 from social media has been introduced in Australia's Parliament.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s communications minister said Wednesday the government won’t force social media users to hand over their personal information to tech companies, as children younger than 16 are set to be banned from the platforms.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges.