Canberra (Australia), Dec. 10 (LaPresse) – The ban on social media access for under-16s came into force today in Australia. “This is the day when Australian families take back power from big tech companies and assert children’s right to be children and parents’ right to greater peace of mind,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. “This reform will change life for Australian children, allowing them to simply enjoy their childhood, and for Australian parents, allowing them to have greater peace of mind,” he later stated at a rally of reform supporters in Sydney, including parents who blame social media for their child’s suicide, “but also for the global community, which looks at Australia and says: well, if Australia can do it, why can’t we?” Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Twitch face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (28 million euros) starting today if they do not take measures to remove the accounts of Australian children under 16.