Over 20 Countries Take Action on Social Media Restrictions for Children, Says Australian PM Albanese

United Nations, September 28 (Daily Kiran) : Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at the United Nations General Assembly that more than 20 countries are either implementing or considering age-related restrictions on social media. This development comes as leaders call for stronger measures to protect children from the dangers posed by digital platforms and artificial intelligence.

Albanese highlighted that Australia’s decision last year to ban social media use for children under 16 has spurred global action in this area. “Already, over 20 countries have enacted or are enacting age-related restrictions on social media,” he stated, noting that additional countries are likely to follow suit, especially in light of steps taken by the European community.

The ban in Australia arose from a campaign by parents who reported negative impacts of social media on their children. Some of these parents addressed the General Assembly during a previous meeting to voice their concerns.

Albanese framed this initiative as a collaborative effort among nations to tackle challenges posed by rapidly evolving technology. He emphasized that the UN’s mission cannot be outsourced to the world’s wealthiest companies or dictated by the pace of technological advancement.

France echoed this sentiment, advocating for stricter regulations to shield children and teenagers from technologies that could hinder their learning capabilities. President Emmanuel Macron pointed out that exposure to certain digital technologies is diminishing the learning potential of youth. “Let us not wait for the negative consequences to unfold,” he urged.

Macron also warned that discussions on artificial intelligence should not be left solely to the United States, China, and a few private corporations, given the significant impact this technology can have on governments, healthcare, and financial systems.

In the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed concerns that artificial intelligence could exacerbate existing threats in the information landscape. He accused opposing forces of exploiting fears through bots, fake websites, and misinformation, thereby increasing societal division. Burnham affirmed that the UK would work towards establishing global principles and standards for transparency, preparedness, and safety in AI.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung cautioned that the AI revolution could heighten economic inequality and instill anxiety among the youth regarding their futures. He announced plans for South Korea to create a global AI hub platform to share the benefits of technological advancement with the international community.

Italy also stressed the need for regulations while cautioning against excessive oversight. Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani warned that new technologies could lead to inequalities, dependency, and power centralization. He insisted that the international community cannot entrust its future to unregulated technology but also rejected bureaucratic constraints that only a few would follow.

Argentinian President Javier Milei remarked that fears surrounding previous technological revolutions did not result in the job losses initially predicted. He indicated that Argentina would avoid hasty regulations and instead encourage companies developing AI.

Milei stated, “Fear should not translate into compliance.” A significant debate has emerged around whether governments should limit youth access to digital platforms or require companies to redesign services to protect children from harmful content, addictive features, misinformation, and online exploitation.

Tajani called for a balance between transparency, oversight, safety, and the protection of intellectual property. Argentina has strongly supported a more lenient regulatory approach.