The new law will deliver a message to tech companies to "clean up their act," the country's prime minister has said.

Australia’s controversial new law barring under-16s from social media is one of the toughest crackdowns yet on platforms including Facebook and TikTok as governments worldwide grasp for ways to protect children from harmful content.

Australia’s decision to enforce a social media ban for children under 16 has stirred diverse reactions, ranging from anger to relief. While the government has lauded the move as a global benchmark for regulating Big Tech,