The Perspective #09: November24

Australia Passes Legislation Banning Social Media for Under-16s

Krish Chaddha

On the 28th of November Australian parliament passed the ‘online safety amendment (social media minimum age) bill’ by 34 votes to 19. This bill would see tech companies fined AU$50m if they do not comply with banning social media for under-16s and take reasonable steps to ensure users are of age— after the law comes into effect in at least 12 months. The law passed following Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, assertion that there is a ‘clear causal link between the rise of social media and the harm (to) the mental health of young Australians’.

The bill does not outline how this would practically work, nor does it specify which companies would need to uphold the law— though it does advise that YouTube would not be included in the ban due to its educational aspect.

Opponents of the minimum age law centre their argument around the bill being ‘too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively’, and implementation of it runs the risk of driving the youth to the dark web. They also suggest that the process has been too rushed and not sufficiently thought through, as having to prove age, could mean that social media companies have access to lots of personal data.

Nonetheless, the bill does have support from the majority of Australians, with 77% of the population backing the ban and all of Australia’s State and Territory leaders also supporting its passage.

Live Free, Die Assisted: UK Edges Closer to Legal Euthanasia

Shay Patel

The UK Parliament has passed the first reading of the Assisted Dying Bill, a significant step towards potentially legalising assisted dying in England and Wales. This bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, aims to allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the option of ending their lives through medically assisted means, subject to strict safeguards.

The bill has sparked intense debate, with advocates arguing it provides dignity and autonomy to terminally ill individuals, while critics raise concerns about the potential for coercion and the implications for vulnerable groups, including disabled individuals. Leadbeater emphasised the robust safeguards in place, such as multiple medical evaluations, judicial oversight, and mandatory waiting periods, designed to ensure decisions are voluntary and well-considered​.

This development marks a major milestone but is far from final. The bill now moves to a Public Bill Committee for a detailed examination, a process expected to last several months. Even if it passes this stage, broader parliamentary approval, particularly from the Lords, will be needed before it can become law. If implemented, this legislation would bring England and Wales in line with countries like Switzerland and Canada, where assisted dying is already legal under strict conditions.