Australian lawmakers have moved a step closer to banning under 16s from using social media platforms, with the legislation passing through parliament's lower chamber on Wednesday. The ban, which is set to be debated by the Senate, would require companies such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat to take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from having accounts. If they fail to comply, they could face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has championed the ban, citing concerns about social media's impact on young people, including peer pressure, anxiety and online predators. The legislation is one of the strictest in the world, but experts are sceptical that it can be implemented effectively due to the ease with which age restrictions can be circumvented.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1255779-australia-takes-step-to-ban-under-16s-from-social-mediaAustralian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed concerns about the impact of social media on children's mental health, describing it as a "global problem". He believes there is a direct link between social media usage and mental health issues in Australian kids. The government will not implement new laws regulating social media for at least 12 months, but Mr Albanese says companies have a responsibility to address the issue.
https://deadline.com/2024/11/australia-social-media-ban-law-passed-1236189503/The Australian government's proposed bill aimed at regulating social media platforms has been criticized by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, for being inconsistent and ineffective. The company expressed concerns that the legislation was drafted without sufficient consultation with experts, mental health organizations, and young people. This criticism comes as 13 US states have recently sued TikTok over allegations that it is designed to be addictive and harms children's mental health.
https://petapixel.com/2024/11/27/australia-passes-world-first-bill-to-ban-social-media-for-kids-under-16/The Australian government has moved closer to banning social media for children under the age of 16 after the lower house of parliament passed a bill with bipartisan support. The legislation, which is expected to be debated by the Senate later on Wednesday, aims to impose some of the toughest social media controls in the world. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government has argued that excessive use of social media poses risks to children's physical and mental health, and is seeking support from parents to enforce the ban. The bill requires social media platforms such as Google and Meta to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/australia-nears-social-media-ban-for-children-after-heated-debate-1841831A 20-year-old man was attacked with a knife at a mental health shelter in Hong Kong's Yuen Long district on Tuesday, leaving him unconscious and with neck and head wounds. The suspect, a 56-year-old man, was arrested immediately by police at the Tung Hoi Association for the Gifted Child, a private residential care home located off Castle Peak Road in San Wai Tsuen.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3288182/hong-kong-man-suffers-neck-head-wounds-knife-attack-mental-health-shelter?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionIn recent incidents of mass violence in China, a common thread has emerged among perpetrators who have carried out "social revenge" attacks, targeting random strangers due to personal grievances. The 62-year-old perpetrator in Zhuhai attacked others after being upset over his divorce settlement and later attempted suicide, while the 21-year-old suspect in Yixing vented frustration over failing an exam and low internship pay before attacking others. Experts such as Dr Zhao Litao from the National University of Singapore and Mr Barclay Bram from the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis have pointed to socioeconomic disparities, weakened social norms, and gaps in psychological support as contributing factors to these incidents. They also highlighted the importance of addressing individual mental health challenges shaped by broader societal stressors such as work pressures, unemployment, strained relationships, or economic disputes.
https://channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/world-crazy-spate-mass-casualty-incidents-china-reveal-pent-up-grievances-and-anger-4759366The Israeli military's involvement in the Gaza conflict has taken a toll on its troops, with many afflicted by mental illness. The war in Lebanon has resulted in over 3,600 deaths, while billions of dollars are being allocated to Israel but not provided as aid to Americans fleeing Middle East conflicts. The International Criminal Court is considering indicting US leaders for their role in the conflict. In response to fuel shortages, Gaza hospitals will stop services within 48 hours.
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/live-blog-israel-kills-many-wounds-33-in-strike-on-lebanons-beirut-18235510The Australian government has introduced a Bill in parliament to ban social media for children under 16, with fines of up to A$49.5 million for social media platforms that fail to implement age-verification systems. The proposed law would require social media companies such as Meta Platforms' Instagram and Facebook, Bytedance's TikTok, Elon Musk's X, and Snapchat to verify the ages of their users. The government argues that excessive social media use poses risks to children's physical and mental health, particularly for girls who are exposed to harmful depictions of body image and misogynist content. The law would not exempt parents or existing accounts, but would allow children to access messaging, online gaming, and educational services such as Headspace and Google Classroom.
The French National Consultative Commission on the Information of the Nation (CNCTI) is working to provide educators with tools to help young people navigate social media safely. The commission, which includes health experts and parents, is gathering information from students about their experiences with social media. They are finding that excessive screen time is causing problems such as sleep deprivation and vision issues due to prolonged exposure to blue light.
https://globalnews.ca/news/10883506/quebec-kids-screen-time-commission/