American talk-show host Oprah Winfrey has lauded Australia’s new law banning social media use by under-16s, saying it will help young people develop better social skills. The rule, set to take effect on December 10, will bar children and teenagers from platforms including TikTok, Meta’s Instagram and Snap’s Snapchat. The government says the measure aims to shield youngsters from harmful material and online predators.
Speaking at an event in Sydney while on a national speaking tour, Winfrey said the ban could “change the lives of an entire generation of kids who are going to have better lives.” She expressed particular concern about boys, saying early exposure to pornography and heavy internet use can impair their ability to communicate and form real-world social connections.
Australia’s approach—described as a world first—carries fines of up to A$49.5 million (about US$33 million). Governments worldwide are monitoring the policy’s effects, and most major platforms have indicated they will comply. Australia’s internet regulator says about 96% of teenagers under 16—more than a million people in the country of roughly 27 million—have social media accounts.
