Albanese pitches Aussie social media ban to the world
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a bereaved mother have attempted to persuade other countries to follow Australia’s social media ban for kids at an event at the UN.
Source: Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese has promoted Australia’s world-first social media age ban to other nations during a jam-packed final day at the United Nations General Assembly.
The landmark policy received praise from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen during the event on the sidelines of the UN gathering.
Albanese is trying to build an international coalition to clamp down on children’s access to apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
He was joined by parents who have campaigned for tougher social media laws at an event for world leaders in New York City.
They included NSW mum Emma Mason, whose daughter Tilly, 15, took her own life after being bullied on social media.
“I’m standing up for her and telling her story so that other children don’t endure what she had to,” Mason said.
Emma Mason addresses a gathering at the United Nations. Photo: AAP
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Australia will introduce social media age restrictions on December 10.
“This is a sensible but overdue step to protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them three more years to build real world connections and online resilience,” Albanese said.
Europe is considering introducing similar laws, to bar children under 16 from social media.
But Australia’s age restrictions could cause friction with the US, where many major online platforms are based.
The White House has raised concerns about other laws cracking down on tech giants’ use of Australian news content.
The issue could be discussed when Albanese sits down with US President Donald Trump in Washington next month.
Earlier, speaking at the UN, Albanese promoted Australia’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 62 to 70 per cent on 2005 levels by 2035.
Australians knew extreme weather events were becoming more frequent and intense, he said, and the next decade would be decisive for action on climate change.
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“An essential message that each of us can send to our citizens is this: It is not too late,” Albanese said.
“If we act now and move with common purpose, then we can do more than just guard against the very worst.”
Meanwhile, the internet seems unamused with a selfie of Albanese and Trump taken during a quick catch-up in New York.
Albanese posted the picture to social media after snatching a moment with Trump a welcome reception for world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Albanese and Trump came face-to-face after the PM arrived at the evening event with fiancee Jodie Haydon on Wednesday (AEST).
There was no media at the exclusive gathering but Albanese posted a photo of the pair to his Instagram just before 3am New York time.
About 145 leaders and their partners lined up for hours to get a picture with Trump and US first lady Melania Trump.
Albanese said his brief interaction with Trump was a “very warm and engaging chat, and we look forward to a further discussion in a few weeks’ time”.
The online reaction to the selfie was swift and brutal.
“I know this was necessary but try not to look so happy about it please,” pone user commented on Albanese’s post.
Another asked: “Can we stop supporting this nonsense? How did people keep a straight face during his speech and how the flock are you taking a selfie with this man after he just announced paracetamol causes autism?”
This is Albanese’s last full day in the US. He will meet his Sri Lankan counterpart and potentially sit down with Turkey’s strongman leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
-with AAP
