Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has officially resigned amid intensifying anti-government protests that erupted following a controversial social media ban and growing public anger over corruption. The unrest, led largely by the country’s youth, has left 19 dead and forced multiple cabinet resignations, marking a major political shake-up in Kathmandu.


Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli resigns amid violent protests

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has officially resigned amid intensifying anti-government protests that erupted following a controversial social media ban and growing public anger over corruption. The unrest, led largely by the country’s youth, has left 19 dead and forced multiple cabinet resignations, marking a major political shake-up in Kathmandu.

Nepal is on edge as Gen Z-led protests erupt over a controversial social media ban. With 19 dead, three ministers gone, and Prime Minister KP Oli under pressure, what started as a digital crackdown has become a nationwide rebellion against corruption, censorship, and broken trust.

 Fresh protests erupt in Nepal: Two more ministers resign | 19 dead, over 400 injured

Nepal is on edge as Gen Z-led protests erupt over a controversial social media ban. With 19 dead, three ministers gone, and Prime Minister KP Oli under pressure, what started as a digital crackdown has become a nationwide rebellion against corruption, censorship, and broken trust.


 Nepal protests reignite: Calls for Oli's resignation intensify

Nepal Social Media Ban: Government Lifts Social Media Ban After Protests | 19 Dead, PM Orders Probe | WION Newspoint

Following the deadly protests and mounting international pressure, the Nepal government has officially lifted its controversial social media ban. The move comes after nationwide unrest led by Gen Z protesters demanding digital freedom and government accountability.


Nepal Social Media Ban: Government Lifts Social Media Ban After Protests | 19 Dead, PM Orders Probe

Following the deadly protests and mounting international pressure, the Nepal government has officially lifted its controversial social media ban. The move comes after nationwide unrest led by Gen Z protesters demanding digital freedom and government accountability.

Nepal Gen Z protests: Government lifts social media ban following deadly protests

Following the deadly protests and mounting international pressure, the Nepal government has officially lifted its controversial social media ban. The move comes after nationwide unrest led by Gen Z protesters demanding digital freedom and government accountability.


Nepal government lifts social media ban following deadly protests: 19 dead

After the Indian government blocked the social media handles of several famous Pakistani celebrities amid the intensifying tensions between the two nations, Pakistani actress, and TikTok star Jannat Mirza dodged the question about her views on the Pahalgam terror attack, signalling fear of social media ban.
When a reporter asked Mirza about the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, she refused to comment on it.&nbsp;
In a viral clip, a journalist is seen asking Jannat for her opinion on the situation about Pakistan's army role in the Pahalgam terror attack, neither did she support Pakistan, nor India.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/sonu-nigam-refers-to-the-pahalgam-attack-as-a-fan-demands-him-to-sing-in-kannada-internet-has-mixed-reaction-9025747">Watch: Sonu Nigam refers to the Pahalgam attack as a fan demands him to sing in Kannada; Internet has mixed reaction</a>
Jannat was seen making a "zip-your-mouth" gesture, refusing to speak on the issue, and then walking away from the reporters.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
اس ٹک ٹاکر یُوتھن کو مُلک سے زیادہ اپنے بھارتی آڈئینس زیادہ پیارے ہیں <a href="https://t.co/B4KXmHtMq1">pic.twitter.com/B4KXmHtMq1</a>
&mdash; Dr Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamaJunejo/status/1918057450227245392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="dofollow">May 1, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This comes after the Instagram handles of several famous Pakistani celebrities such as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hania-aamir">Hania Aamir</a>, Mahira Khan, Sajal Aly and Ali Zafar got blocked in India.&nbsp;
Following the April 22 terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, the Indian government has taken several significant actions against neighbouring country Pakistan.&nbsp;
When Indian Instagram users tried to access their Instagram accounts, they got the the message, reading, "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hania-aamir-responds-to-the-viral-fake-statement-on-pahalgam-terror-attack-pain-deserves-empathy-not-9024574">Hania Aamir responds to the viral &lsquo;fake&rsquo; statement on Pahalgam Terror attack: &lsquo;Pain deserves empathy not&hellip;&rsquo;</a>
The ban came just hours after the Indian government took a major step to curb the spread of misinformation by blocking 16 Pakistani YouTube channels.
The banned YouTube channels included Pakistani media outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, Ary News, Geo News. Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar's YouTube channel, which had over 3.5 million subscribers.&nbsp;
Amid the fear of getting her social media accounts banned by the Indian government, Jannat also possibly refused to comment anything on the ongoing tensions between the two countries.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/hania-aamir-mahira-khan-and-other-pakistani-celebrities-instagram-accounts-blocked-in-india-after-pahalgam-attack-9019931">#Banned! Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan and other Pakistani Celebrities&rsquo; Instagram accounts blocked in India after Pahalgam attack</a>
Moreover, after the clip got viral, netizens slammed her for avoiding to speak on a topic of national and humanitarian importance.&nbsp;
"Pakistani Celebrities are increasingly afraid of speaking on India&rsquo;s Kashmir or support Pakistan Army because their YouTube/Instagram account could face a ban in India," a user on X wrote.
&nbsp;

A journalist is seen asking her opinion on situation about Pakistan's army role in the Pahalgam attack, neither did she support Pakistan, nor India. India news pakistan

After the Indian government blocked the social media handles of several famous Pakistani celebrities amid the intensifying tensions between the two nations, Pakistani actress, and TikTok star Jannat Mirza dodged the question about her views on the Pahalgam terror attack, signalling fear of social media ban. When a reporter asked Mirza about the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, she refused to comment on it. In a viral clip, a journalist is seen asking Jannat for her opinion on the situation about Pakistan's army role in the Pahalgam terror attack, neither did she support Pakistan, nor India. Also read: Watch: Sonu Nigam refers to the Pahalgam attack as a fan demands him to sing in Kannada; Internet has mixed reaction Jannat was seen making a "zip-your-mouth" gesture, refusing to speak on the issue, and then walking away from the reporters. اس ٹک ٹاکر یُوتھن کو مُلک سے زیادہ اپنے بھارتی آڈئینس زیادہ پیارے ہیں pic.twitter.com/B4KXmHtMq1 — Dr Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) May 1, 2025 This comes after the Instagram handles of several famous Pakistani celebrities such as Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Sajal Aly and Ali Zafar got blocked in India. Following the April 22 terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, the Indian government has taken several significant actions against neighbouring country Pakistan. When Indian Instagram users tried to access their Instagram accounts, they got the the message, reading, "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content." Also read: Hania Aamir responds to the viral ‘fake’ statement on Pahalgam Terror attack: ‘Pain deserves empathy not…’ The ban came just hours after the Indian government took a major step to curb the spread of misinformation by blocking 16 Pakistani YouTube channels. The banned YouTube channels included Pakistani media outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, Ary News, Geo News. Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar's YouTube channel, which had over 3.5 million subscribers. Amid the fear of getting her social media accounts banned by the Indian government, Jannat also possibly refused to comment anything on the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Also read: #Banned! Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan and other Pakistani Celebrities’ Instagram accounts blocked in India after Pahalgam attack Moreover, after the clip got viral, netizens slammed her for avoiding to speak on a topic of national and humanitarian importance. "Pakistani Celebrities are increasingly afraid of speaking on India’s Kashmir or support Pakistan Army because their YouTube/Instagram account could face a ban in India," a user on X wrote.

'Fear of social media ban in India? Pakistani TikTok star Jannat Mirza refuses to support Pak army on Pahalgam terror attack

Australia's prime minister said Sunday he was ready to "engage" with billionaire X owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the government's ban on under-16s joining social media.

Anthony Albanese hailed the parliament's Thursday passage of landmark legislation requiring social media firms to take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from having accounts.

The law, which will come into effect after 12 months, gives few details of how it will be enforced, including how sites like Facebook, Instagram and X will verify users' ages.

Musk – who has been named Donald Trump's government efficiency chief in the incoming US administration – posted on X last month that the law "seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians".

"We will talk to anyone," Albanese said when asked if he would discuss the legislation with Musk.

"With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda. He's entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter," Albanese told Australian public broadcaster ABC.

When the interviewer mentioned that Musk was also Trump's "right-hand man", the prime minister replied: "We will engage, we will engage."

Social media firms that fail to comply with the new law face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for "systemic breaches".

Musk's platform in October lost a legal bid to avoid a US$417,000 fine levelled by Australia's online watchdog, which has accused X of failing to stamp out harmful posts.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-india-other-brics-nations-commit-to-us-dollar-or-face-100-tariff-780553">Trump warns India, other BRICS nations: Commit to US Dollar or face '100%' tariff</a>

<h2>'Bullying'</h2>

The government will decide over the next 12 months how to implement the ban, Albanese said, insisting, however, that it would not require people to provide identification.

"The obligation will be on social media companies to do everything they can to make sure that those people under 16 don't have access to social media," the prime minister said.

"We know that social media companies have more information about you and I than some of our friends do," he added.

"We know that they are able to do that, and the obligation will be on them."

Albanese said he was "determined" to implement the legislation.

"I've met parents who have had to bury their children as a result of the impact that social media has had as a result of bullying, and we need to do something about it," he said.

Several social media giants have promised to work with the government on implementing the law.

But they have also criticised the legislation, saying it was "rushed", full of unanswered questions, and did not take into account the views of experts who opposed it.

The UN children's charity UNICEF Australia warned this week that the law was no "silver bullet" against online harm and could push kids into "covert and unregulated" spaces online.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Australia's prime minister said Sunday he was ready to "engage" with billionaire X owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the government's ban on under-16s joining social media.

Australia's prime minister said Sunday he was ready to "engage" with billionaire X owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the government's ban on under-16s joining social media. Anthony Albanese hailed the parliament's Thursday passage of landmark legislation requiring social media firms to take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from having accounts. The law, which will come into effect after 12 months, gives few details of how it will be enforced, including how sites like Facebook, Instagram and X will verify users' ages. Musk – who has been named Donald Trump's government efficiency chief in the incoming US administration – posted on X last month that the law "seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians". "We will talk to anyone," Albanese said when asked if he would discuss the legislation with Musk. "With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda. He's entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter," Albanese told Australian public broadcaster ABC. When the interviewer mentioned that Musk was also Trump's "right-hand man", the prime minister replied: "We will engage, we will engage." Social media firms that fail to comply with the new law face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for "systemic breaches". Musk's platform in October lost a legal bid to avoid a US$417,000 fine levelled by Australia's online watchdog, which has accused X of failing to stamp out harmful posts. Also read | Trump warns India, other BRICS nations: Commit to US Dollar or face '100%' tariff 'Bullying' The government will decide over the next 12 months how to implement the ban, Albanese said, insisting, however, that it would not require people to provide identification. "The obligation will be on social media companies to do everything they can to make sure that those people under 16 don't have access to social media," the prime minister said. "We know that social media companies have more information about you and I than some of our friends do," he added. "We know that they are able to do that, and the obligation will be on them." Albanese said he was "determined" to implement the legislation. "I've met parents who have had to bury their children as a result of the impact that social media has had as a result of bullying, and we need to do something about it," he said. Several social media giants have promised to work with the government on implementing the law. But they have also criticised the legislation, saying it was "rushed", full of unanswered questions, and did not take into account the views of experts who opposed it. The UN children's charity UNICEF Australia warned this week that the law was no "silver bullet" against online harm and could push kids into "covert and unregulated" spaces online. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ready to 'engage' with Musk: Australian PM on social media teen ban

The Australian Senate passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media on Thursday (Nov. 28). It becomes the first country in the world to have such legislation.&nbsp;

The ban will not take effect for at least 12 months and could see tech companies get fined up to A$50 million if they do not abide by it.&nbsp;

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation is needed to protect young people from the "harms" of social media, an issue that has been raised by many parent groups.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, critics have been questioning how the ban would work and its impact on privacy and social connection.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-pushes-ahead-bill-banning-children-from-social-media-linkedin-says-its-too-dull-for-kids-779519">Also read:&nbsp;Australia clears bill banning children from social media, LinkedIn says its platform is 'too dull for kids'</a>

"This is a global problem, and we want young Australians essentially to have a childhood," Albanese said while introducing the bill to the lower house last week. "We want parents to have peace of mind," he added.&nbsp;

As it passed the Senate by 34 votes to 19 late on Thursday, the bill will now return to the House of Representatives, where the government has a majority, which means it will surely pass.&nbsp;

However, the legislation did not specify yet which platforms will be banned. These decisions will later be made by Australia’s communications minister, who will seek advice from the eSafety Commissioner - an internet regulator that will enforce the rules.

Watch |&nbsp;Australia Tables Bill to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 16

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Moreover, the government said it will rely on some form of age-verification technology to implement the restrictions on the platform, adding that the options will be tested in the coming months.

During a short consultation period before the bill passed, Google and Snap slammed the legislation for not providing more detail. Meanwhile, Meta said the bill would be "ineffective" and not meet its stated aim of making kids safer.

Moreover, some of the youth advocates also accused the government of not understanding social media's role in children's lives.&nbsp;

"We understand we are vulnerable to the risks and negative impacts of social media… but we need to be involved in developing solutions," wrote the eSafety Youth Council, which advises the regulator.

Later, the Australian PM defended the bill saying, "We all know technology moves fast and some people will try to find ways around these new laws but that is not a reason to ignore the responsibility that we have."

(With inputs from agencies)

The Australian Senate passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media on Thursday (Nov. 28). It becomes the first country in the world to have such legislation.

The Australian Senate passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media on Thursday (Nov. 28). It becomes the first country in the world to have such legislation. The ban will not take effect for at least 12 months and could see tech companies get fined up to A$50 million if they do not abide by it. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation is needed to protect young people from the "harms" of social media, an issue that has been raised by many parent groups. Meanwhile, critics have been questioning how the ban would work and its impact on privacy and social connection. Also read: Australia clears bill banning children from social media, LinkedIn says its platform is 'too dull for kids' "This is a global problem, and we want young Australians essentially to have a childhood," Albanese said while introducing the bill to the lower house last week. "We want parents to have peace of mind," he added. As it passed the Senate by 34 votes to 19 late on Thursday, the bill will now return to the House of Representatives, where the government has a majority, which means it will surely pass. However, the legislation did not specify yet which platforms will be banned. These decisions will later be made by Australia’s communications minister, who will seek advice from the eSafety Commissioner - an internet regulator that will enforce the rules. Watch | Australia Tables Bill to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 16 × Moreover, the government said it will rely on some form of age-verification technology to implement the restrictions on the platform, adding that the options will be tested in the coming months. During a short consultation period before the bill passed, Google and Snap slammed the legislation for not providing more detail. Meanwhile, Meta said the bill would be "ineffective" and not meet its stated aim of making kids safer. Moreover, some of the youth advocates also accused the government of not understanding social media's role in children's lives. "We understand we are vulnerable to the risks and negative impacts of social media… but we need to be involved in developing solutions," wrote the eSafety Youth Council, which advises the regulator. Later, the Australian PM defended the bill saying, "We all know technology moves fast and some people will try to find ways around these new laws but that is not a reason to ignore the responsibility that we have." (With inputs from agencies)

Australia passes social media ban on children under 16, becomes first country to take such measure

After Australia passed a bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years of age, other countries including the United Kingdom started thinking in this direction.&nbsp;

On Thursday (Nov 21), the BBC reported that the UK's technology secretary Peter Kyle said&nbsp;a possible ban for under-16s is “on the table."

While speaking on the Today programme, on BBC Radio 4, Kyle said he would “do what it takes” to keep young people and children in particular safe online.

He also announced detailed research into the impact tech was having on young people, claiming that research currently came up with “no firm, peer-reviewed evidence.”

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cambridge-dictionary-picks-manifest-as-word-of-the-year-2024-heres-why-777734">Cambridge Dictionary picks 'manifest' as Word of the Year 2024, here's why</a>

However, while speaking to The Guardian, Kyle said&nbsp;"there’s no work programme at the moment on banning smartphones to children."

His comments came as he met a group of teenagers at the headquarters of the NSPCC in London on Thursday. Childline operators deal with about 10 calls a day from children suffering harm from social media.

<h2>Social media ban for kids in Australia&nbsp;</h2>

The idea of legally restricting social media for young people has come after the Australian government said it would introduce legislation to ban children under 16 from social media.

Earlier, Australia's communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced a world-first law in Parliament to ban children under 16 from using social media.&nbsp;

"This bill establishes a new societal norm that social media access should not define growing up in Australia,” Rowland said, pointing towards the risks of unfiltered and endless content exposure for young users.

Watch |&nbsp;Australia Considers Ban On Social Media For Children Under 16 By 2025

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Kyle’s comments earlier that a ban was “on the table” led to concerns among teenagers. Kyle is still saying he has not ruled out a ban in the future, depending on evidence about its effectiveness, including if one is rolled out in Australia where legislation is going through parliament.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-to-be-summoned-by-uk-mps-over-xs-role-in-uk-riots-777737">Elon Musk to be summoned by UK MPs over X's role in UK riots</a>

"I’m in touch with the government in Australia to see what, if it is, they’re basing it on [and] why they’re doing it,"&nbsp;he said.

Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16.&nbsp;

The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians."

Australia announced the bill on November 21 and Musk reacted just hours after it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After Australia passed a bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years of age, other countries including the United Kingdom started thinking in this direction.

After Australia passed a bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years of age, other countries including the United Kingdom started thinking in this direction. On Thursday (Nov 21), the BBC reported that the UK's technology secretary Peter Kyle said a possible ban for under-16s is “on the table." While speaking on the Today programme, on BBC Radio 4, Kyle said he would “do what it takes” to keep young people and children in particular safe online. He also announced detailed research into the impact tech was having on young people, claiming that research currently came up with “no firm, peer-reviewed evidence.” Also Read | Cambridge Dictionary picks 'manifest' as Word of the Year 2024, here's why However, while speaking to The Guardian, Kyle said "there’s no work programme at the moment on banning smartphones to children." His comments came as he met a group of teenagers at the headquarters of the NSPCC in London on Thursday. Childline operators deal with about 10 calls a day from children suffering harm from social media. Social media ban for kids in Australia The idea of legally restricting social media for young people has come after the Australian government said it would introduce legislation to ban children under 16 from social media. Earlier, Australia's communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced a world-first law in Parliament to ban children under 16 from using social media. "This bill establishes a new societal norm that social media access should not define growing up in Australia,” Rowland said, pointing towards the risks of unfiltered and endless content exposure for young users. Watch | Australia Considers Ban On Social Media For Children Under 16 By 2025 × Kyle’s comments earlier that a ban was “on the table” led to concerns among teenagers. Kyle is still saying he has not ruled out a ban in the future, depending on evidence about its effectiveness, including if one is rolled out in Australia where legislation is going through parliament. Also Read | Elon Musk to be summoned by UK MPs over X's role in UK riots "I’m in touch with the government in Australia to see what, if it is, they’re basing it on [and] why they’re doing it," he said. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16. The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians." Australia announced the bill on November 21 and Musk reacted just hours after it. (With inputs from agencies)

Social media ban in UK for under-16s similar to that Australia? Minister says...

Billionaire Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16.&nbsp;

The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians."

Musk's reaction came hours after the Australian government on Thursday (Nov 21), introduced the bill in parliament.&nbsp;

Australia introduced the bill highlighting the need for an age verification system. If implemented, this will be one of the strictest social media regulations in the world.&nbsp;

Companies found breaching the proposed regulation could be fined up to 32 million USD.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-king-charless-coronation-cost-uk-taxpayers-%C2%A372-million-778174">King Charles' coronation cost UK taxpayers £72 million</a>

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said in a statement that social media companies had a responsibility for the "safety and mental health" of Australians, AFP reported.&nbsp;

Australian tech companies said they will adhere to new regulations but also jointly suggested the government not to take any action too quickly, AFP reported.&nbsp;

"The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place," AFP quoted Rowland saying.&nbsp;

<h2>Not the first clash</h2>

Musk has a long history of clashing with the Australian&nbsp;government on social media policies.&nbsp;

In April 2024, an Australian cyber regulator asked Musk-owned platform, X, to remove posts about a stabbing incident.&nbsp;

When the platform refused the request, the Australian prime minister called Musk an "arrogant billionaire." Musk also hit back at the government calling its laws and policies "fascist."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-police-urge-bolsonaros-indictment-for-2022-coup-plot-778206">Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot</a>

Australia is not the first country to implement or introduce such a strict social media regulation.&nbsp;

Last year, France proposed a social media ban for children under 15, however, permitted parental consent.&nbsp;

The United States law requires parental consent if children under 13 want to access social media. 
&nbsp; 
Spain, in June 2024, passed a law banning social media access to those under the age of 16. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16. The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.

Billionaire Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16. The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians." Musk's reaction came hours after the Australian government on Thursday (Nov 21), introduced the bill in parliament. Australia introduced the bill highlighting the need for an age verification system. If implemented, this will be one of the strictest social media regulations in the world. Companies found breaching the proposed regulation could be fined up to 32 million USD. Also read | King Charles' coronation cost UK taxpayers £72 million Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said in a statement that social media companies had a responsibility for the "safety and mental health" of Australians, AFP reported. Australian tech companies said they will adhere to new regulations but also jointly suggested the government not to take any action too quickly, AFP reported. "The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place," AFP quoted Rowland saying. Not the first clash Musk has a long history of clashing with the Australian government on social media policies. In April 2024, an Australian cyber regulator asked Musk-owned platform, X, to remove posts about a stabbing incident. When the platform refused the request, the Australian prime minister called Musk an "arrogant billionaire." Musk also hit back at the government calling its laws and policies "fascist." Also read | Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot Australia is not the first country to implement or introduce such a strict social media regulation. Last year, France proposed a social media ban for children under 15, however, permitted parental consent. The United States law requires parental consent if children under 13 want to access social media. Spain, in June 2024, passed a law banning social media access to those under the age of 16. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk slams Australia's proposed social media ban for children

Australia introduced a bill in parliament to ban social media for children under 16 and proposed fines for social media platforms for systemic breaches. Watch this report for more details!

Australia Tables U-16 Social Media Ban Bill | GRAVITAS

Australia Tables Bill to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 16

The Australian government has proposed a ban on social media for the children under the age of 16. This initiative will make Australia a leader in global efforts to protect young online users. Watch this to know more.

Australia Considers Ban On Social Media For Children Under 16 By 2025

For Tereza Hussein, a 14-year-old refugee who lives in Darwin, Australia's planned social media ban would mean losing a direct line to the most important person to her: a grandmother she has never physically met.

For Tereza Hussein, a 14-year-old refugee who lives in Darwin, Australia's planned social media ban would mean losing a direct line to the most important person to her: a grandmother she has never physically met. "It's the only way I've ever connected to my grandma before, over socials," said Hussein, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but lived in a refugee camp in Malawi before settling in Australia when she was nine. "It's going to have a very big change in my life because it's going to be hard for me to talk to the people that I've left behind," she said. While Hussein rarely posts on social media, she uses Meta's Instagram and Snapchat primarily to view and discuss photos and videos from family and friends. She represents what experts say is a blind spot in a plan by Australia's government to put an age minimum on social media in response to concerns about bullying, predatory grooming and physical and mental health. For teenagers from migrant, LGBTQIA+ and other minority backgrounds, an age block could cut off access to essential social support. Some 97% of Australian teenagers use social media across an average of four platforms, surveys show, making them among the world's most connected youth. Nearly two-thirds of parents of Australian teenagers reported concerns about their children's social media use, according to a 2024 survey by youth service ReachOut. Now the government wants to curb social media addiction by cutting the cord. While the ban is yet to be legislated and at present lacks key details -- such as which ages and platforms it would affect -- the government's first step is to trial age verification. Youth advocates, however, warn the ban will cut social connections for vulnerable youth and have instead called for tech platforms to better enforce safe interactions. Also Read | Indian American billionaire and past monk, investigated for tax abuse "The ban is pretty much the opposite of what we would recommend," said Amelia Johns, an associate professor of digital media at University of Technology, Sydney, who studied migrant teens' social media use during COVID-19 lockdowns. "Everyone is living on social media. For a lot of young people it's not an option to opt out, and I do wonder about the mental health consequences of a complete blanket ban." So far, no country has rolled out an age-based ban targeting internet platforms. France and Britain have tested age verification but are yet to go live with a ban, while some U.S. states require age verification to access restricted content. Australia plans to introduce legislation by the end of the year. While no lower age limit has been proposed, officials have suggested around 14 to 16. "If I lost social media it would make me feel a lot more isolated," said Ben Kioko, a 14-year-old from Sydney who self-described as autistic and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. "Since I struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, it would make those a lot worse than they already are and could really affect my life long-term," he added. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a key proponent of the ban. "Parents want their kids off their phones and on the footy field, so do I," he said in September. Also Read | Zelensky presents much-awaited 'victory plan': What's in it? Request to join NATO, and more A spokesperson for Albanese didn't respond to Reuters' request for comment Justine Humphry, a media researcher at University of Sydney who has published an online safety programme, said while social media companies should better protect teenagers, an outright ban was based on "nostalgia" for a childhood without screens that she described as "fiction". Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, declined to comment. It has said it supports protecting young users from harmful content and interactions but an age block should be the responsibility of smartphone makers. The company upped privacy default settings for under-18 Instagram users this September and said those under 16 need parental approval to relax settings. Alphabet (GOOGL.O), owner of YouTube, one of the most popular platforms for teenagers, declined to comment but said in a blog post it has features to give parents oversight of their children's use. 'WORKAROUNDS' Elsewhere, no attempts to enforce age restrictions have succeeded partly due to access to virtual private networks (VPNs) that hide users' locations and personal information, experts said. A report by former judge Robert French, commissioned by South Australia state to support its own separate plan for a teen social media ban, noted "there will undoubtedly be workarounds by knowledgeable child users". A 2022 age verification trial in France, which wants social media restricted to 15 and above, found nearly half the country's teenagers could use VPNs, said Olivier Blazy, a computer scientist at Paris's Ecole Polytechnique who worked on the project. Also Read | Court says impeachment proceedings against Kenya deputy president are constitutional Antonio Cesarano, product manager for Proton VPN, said customer numbers typically surged when restrictions were introduced. In 2021, soon after YouTube started asking users for identification to view age-restricted content, a developer using the alias ZerodyOne posted software on open source website Github that helped users bypass the restrictions. It has been downloaded about 2.5 million times, according to data shared by ZerodyOne, who gave only his first name, David. Sydney high school student Enie Lam, 16, said she uses a VPN to bypass her school's wifi restrictions for school-assigned research like reading news articles online. "I understand that using social media a lot is not a good thing and I'm working on it," she said. "But a ban is not going to work." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Will Australia ban social media for teens? Fears rise of move isolating them

Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice, Paul Lam, on Wednesday (March 6) addressed concerns regarding the potential ban on social media platforms under the proposed national security law, following a month-long consultation on the "Article 23" legislation.

This legislation aims to target new offences distinct from the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 after widespread democracy protests in the city.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/protest-anthem-glory-to-hong-kong-disappears-from-major-streaming-platforms-heres-why-604851" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/protest-anthem-glory-to-hong-kong-disappears-from-major-streaming-platforms-heres-why-604851&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikq7WEwt-EAxVnzzgGHfi2DREQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw30MhmU2HUjfLYdc855Rydx" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protest-anthem-glory-to-hong-kong-disappears-from-major-streaming-platforms-heres-why-604851" target="_blank">'Glory to&nbsp;Hong Kong' disappears from major streaming platforms</a>

A public consultation document revealed suggestions from citizens, with one proposing the removal of platforms like Facebook and YouTube from the Hong Kong market, while another recommended the banning of messaging apps Telegram and Signal, describing them as a hotbed of crime.

Secretary for Justice Lam assured lawmakers that the city has no intention of prohibiting the existence of social media platforms under the proposed law. He emphasised that the focus is on addressing the use, abuse or misuse of these tools to spread content endangering national security, rather than a blanket ban on social media.

During a legislative meeting, Lam stated, "What we are targeting are the use, abuse, or misuse of these tools to spread speech that can endanger national security. We are not targeting social media per se."

Security chief Chris Tang echoed Lam's sentiments, assuring that the southern Chinese finance hub would not ban specific social media platforms.

Notably, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) are accessible in Hong Kong, even though they are blocked in mainland China for regular users.

The Hong Kong government is expected to introduce a draft bill related to the proposed national security law as early as next week. Concerns have been raised by rights workers, foreign businesses and diplomats who fear that the new law may limit the flow of information and further restrict freedom of speech and other rights.

In the context of the 2020 national security law, foreign tech giants, including Google and Facebook operator Meta, have navigated a delicate balance in Hong Kong, with some companies refusing content takedown requests from the government.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/why-tiktok-is-a-threat-to-national-security-if-left-unchecked-300976">Why TikTok is a threat to national security if left unchecked</a>

Currently, authorities are seeking a court order to ban the protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong", demanding its removal from YouTube and Google search results.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice, Paul Lam, on Wednesday (March 6) addressed concerns regarding the potential ban on social media platforms under the proposed national security law, following a month-long consultation on the "Article 23" legislation.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice, Paul Lam, on Wednesday (March 6) addressed concerns regarding the potential ban on social media platforms under the proposed national security law, following a month-long consultation on the "Article 23" legislation. This legislation aims to target new offences distinct from the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 after widespread democracy protests in the city. Also read: 'Glory to Hong Kong' disappears from major streaming platforms A public consultation document revealed suggestions from citizens, with one proposing the removal of platforms like Facebook and YouTube from the Hong Kong market, while another recommended the banning of messaging apps Telegram and Signal, describing them as a hotbed of crime. Secretary for Justice Lam assured lawmakers that the city has no intention of prohibiting the existence of social media platforms under the proposed law. He emphasised that the focus is on addressing the use, abuse or misuse of these tools to spread content endangering national security, rather than a blanket ban on social media. During a legislative meeting, Lam stated, "What we are targeting are the use, abuse, or misuse of these tools to spread speech that can endanger national security. We are not targeting social media per se." Security chief Chris Tang echoed Lam's sentiments, assuring that the southern Chinese finance hub would not ban specific social media platforms. Notably, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) are accessible in Hong Kong, even though they are blocked in mainland China for regular users. The Hong Kong government is expected to introduce a draft bill related to the proposed national security law as early as next week. Concerns have been raised by rights workers, foreign businesses and diplomats who fear that the new law may limit the flow of information and further restrict freedom of speech and other rights. In the context of the 2020 national security law, foreign tech giants, including Google and Facebook operator Meta, have navigated a delicate balance in Hong Kong, with some companies refusing content takedown requests from the government. Also read: Why TikTok is a threat to national security if left unchecked Currently, authorities are seeking a court order to ban the protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong", demanding its removal from YouTube and Google search results. (With inputs from agencies)

No social media ban in Hong Kong under security law, affirms minister

Pakistan is mining a ban on social media as resolution to ban social media platforms such as X, YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook has reached Pakistan's Senate. This resolution is scheduled for debate on Monday. As per Senate Secretariat documents, the resolution is aimed at the younger generation for what it perceives as negative and devastating effects of social media. Watch to know more!

Pakistan Social Media Debate: Resolution to ban social media reaches Pak senate

The US Senate has proposed a ban on social media for children under the age of 13. What's the dark side of social media? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: US to ban kids from social media platforms?

Turkey's parliament on Wednesday passed a controversial bill which would give the government greater control of social media.

According to the official Anadolu news agency, under the new law, social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter would have to ensure they have local representatives in Turkey. These representatives have to comply with Turkish court orders over the removal of certain content or face heavy fines.

The law would affect social networks with more than a million unique visits every day, and proposes servers with Turkish users' data must be stored in Turkey.

The law passed after debates beginning on Tuesday and lasting into Wednesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to tighten government control over social media earlier this month after he said "dark-hearted" users insulted Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and his wife Esra, the president's daughter, following the birth of their fourth child.

To this end, critics&nbsp;are worried over what they call the erosion of freedom of expression in Turkey, with thousands of people subject to criminal proceedings for "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media.

Last month, Erdogan met with a spate of negative comments during a video-conference with young people.&nbsp;

The Turkish presidency then turned off comments but there were 388,000 clicks on the "thumbs down" button, compared with 114,000 on the "thumbs up" button.

Erdogan is not a fan of social media despite a large following on different platforms, including Twitter. He once compared the media platforms to a "murderer's knife" and previously promised to "eradicate" Twitter.

His government previously blocked Twitter and YouTube in 2014 after audio recordings were posted implicating the president, then prime minister, and his inner circle in an alleged corruption scandal.

A Turkish court in January lifted a ban on the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia after almost three years.

According to Twitter's latest "transparency report" for the first half of 2019, Turkey ranked number one for seeking content removal with more than 6,000 requests.

Turkey's parliament on Wednesday passed a controversial bill which would give the government greater control of social media. According to the official Anadolu news agency, under the new law, social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter would have to ensure they have local representatives in Turkey.

Turkey's parliament on Wednesday passed a controversial bill which would give the government greater control of social media. According to the official Anadolu news agency, under the new law, social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter would have to ensure they have local representatives in Turkey. These representatives have to comply with Turkish court orders over the removal of certain content or face heavy fines. The law would affect social networks with more than a million unique visits every day, and proposes servers with Turkish users' data must be stored in Turkey. The law passed after debates beginning on Tuesday and lasting into Wednesday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to tighten government control over social media earlier this month after he said "dark-hearted" users insulted Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and his wife Esra, the president's daughter, following the birth of their fourth child. To this end, critics are worried over what they call the erosion of freedom of expression in Turkey, with thousands of people subject to criminal proceedings for "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media. Last month, Erdogan met with a spate of negative comments during a video-conference with young people. The Turkish presidency then turned off comments but there were 388,000 clicks on the "thumbs down" button, compared with 114,000 on the "thumbs up" button. Erdogan is not a fan of social media despite a large following on different platforms, including Twitter. He once compared the media platforms to a "murderer's knife" and previously promised to "eradicate" Twitter. His government previously blocked Twitter and YouTube in 2014 after audio recordings were posted implicating the president, then prime minister, and his inner circle in an alleged corruption scandal. A Turkish court in January lifted a ban on the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia after almost three years. According to Twitter's latest "transparency report" for the first half of 2019, Turkey ranked number one for seeking content removal with more than 6,000 requests.

Turkey parliament passes controversial social media bill

Britain's regulator Ofcom will reportedly make <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/facebook-adds-tips-for-spotting-fake-news-14267">social media companies</a> such as Facebook and Twitter responsible for harmful content on their platforms.

Nicky Morgan, Britain's outgoing digital minister, was quoted saying that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-blocks-group-spreading-pro-trump-posts-from-fake-accounts-269435">platforms had resisted regulation</a> previously but "they understand now that actually regulation is coming."

Britain proposed new online safety laws last year that it said would be the toughest in the world. Former Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly said at the time she would put a legal "duty of care on internet companies to keep users safe online".

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/facebook-changes-algorithm-to-curb-tiny-group-of-spammers-17547">Facebook takes another step to curb spammers</a>

Companies would face big fines, with bosses also held personally accountable, the government said.

Governments globally are wrestling over how to better control the content on social media platforms, often blamed for encouraging abuse, the spread of online pornography and for influencing or manipulating voters.

Under the proposals to be announced on Wednesday, social media platforms will reportedly have to remove illegal content quickly and minimise the risk of it appearing at all.

A spokeswoman for the ministry refused to confirm the details or provide any comments by the minister.

Britain's regulator Ofcom will reportedly make social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter responsible for harmful content on their platforms. Nicky Morgan, Britain's outgoing digital minister, was quoted saying that platforms had resisted regulation previously but "they understand now that actually regulation is coming.

Britain's regulator Ofcom will reportedly make social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter responsible for harmful content on their platforms. Nicky Morgan, Britain's outgoing digital minister, was quoted saying that platforms had resisted regulation previously but "they understand now that actually regulation is coming." Britain proposed new online safety laws last year that it said would be the toughest in the world. Former Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly said at the time she would put a legal "duty of care on internet companies to keep users safe online". Also Read: Facebook takes another step to curb spammers Companies would face big fines, with bosses also held personally accountable, the government said. Governments globally are wrestling over how to better control the content on social media platforms, often blamed for encouraging abuse, the spread of online pornography and for influencing or manipulating voters. Under the proposals to be announced on Wednesday, social media platforms will reportedly have to remove illegal content quickly and minimise the risk of it appearing at all. A spokeswoman for the ministry refused to confirm the details or provide any comments by the minister.

Social media platforms to be held responsible by UK for harmful content

Sri Lankan social networks saw a surge in fake news after the Easter suicide bombings a month ago despite an official social media blackout, highlighting the inability of governments to contain disinformation, experts said.

A nine-day ban on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp was introduced following the Islamic State-claimed attacks on churches and hotels on April 21 which killed 258 people and wounded nearly 500.

Many anxious social media users switched to virtual private networks (VPNs) or the TOR network to bypass the order and keep communication open with friends and relatives as the extent of the carnage became clear.

But for others, the tools were a means to spread confusion and vitriol as the island struggled to come to terms with one of the worst terror attacks in its history.

Sanjana Hattotuwa, who monitors social media for fake news at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo, said the government blackout had failed to prevent "engagement, production, sharing and discussion of Facebook content", and that he had seen a significant increase in false reports.

Old coffins

AFP has published half a dozen fact-checks debunking false claims made on Facebook and Twitter after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-likely-to-miss-full-year-growth-target-after-easter-bombings-junior-minister-220476">Easter attacks</a>.

Some had dug out photos of coffins and funerals from Sri Lanka's brutal decades-long civil war and claimed they showed victims of the blasts.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-communal-violence-in-sri-lanka-after-easter-terror-attacks-218798/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

One video posted to Facebook showed police arresting a man dressed in a burqa and claimed he was involved in the bombings. The video was actually from 2018, and showed a man who had used a burqa to hide his identity while he sought to attack someone over a debt issue.

Another used a five-year-old photo from India that showed a group of men wearing T-shirts with "ISIS", another name for Islamic State, written on them to claim there was an active IS cell in eastern Sri Lanka.

One Twitter user claiming to be a high-ranking Sri Lankan army brigadier used the platform to accuse neighbouring India of being involved in the attacks. The account was later taken down by Twitter after the Sri Lankan army complained.

Authorities in Sri Lanka -- where ethnic divisions still linger after decades of war -- previously blocked Facebook in March 2018 after Buddhist hardliners used incendiary posts to fan religious violence that left three people dead and reduced several hundred homes and shops to ashes.

The surge in fake news has further blemished the troubled reputation of social media -- which several years ago had been seen as a means to expand freedom of information -- in the region.

In India, authorities have temporarily shut down mobile networks or blocked social media apps during riots, while critics say the spread of hate speech via Facebook was crucial in facilitating a brutal 2017 military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.

Since the attacks, Sri Lankan authorities have imposed other short bans on social media, including earlier this month after mobs in the northwestern town of Chilaw attacked Muslim-owned businesses in anger at a Facebook post by a shopkeeper.

No answer

But for those unaware of the government ban or unable to circumvent it, the blocking of social media in the days following the attacks was a cause for panic. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A Sydney-based engineer was desperate to call his sister in Colombo soon after hearing about the Easter blasts, but could not get through.&nbsp;

"I kept calling her on WhatsApp, but there was no reply. We are so used to calling on WhatsApp, I had forgotten her landline number," the Sri Lankan-born engineer said.

Fortunately, he said, he managed to call a friend in Colombo who was using a VPN to access WhatsApp and told him about the social media ban that prevented him from reaching his sister.

Sri Lankan social networks saw a surge in fake news after the Easter suicide bombings a month ago despite an official social media blackout, highlighting the inability of governments to contain disinformation, experts said.

Sri Lankan social networks saw a surge in fake news after the Easter suicide bombings a month ago despite an official social media blackout, highlighting the inability of governments to contain disinformation, experts said. A nine-day ban on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp was introduced following the Islamic State-claimed attacks on churches and hotels on April 21 which killed 258 people and wounded nearly 500. Many anxious social media users switched to virtual private networks (VPNs) or the TOR network to bypass the order and keep communication open with friends and relatives as the extent of the carnage became clear. But for others, the tools were a means to spread confusion and vitriol as the island struggled to come to terms with one of the worst terror attacks in its history. Sanjana Hattotuwa, who monitors social media for fake news at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo, said the government blackout had failed to prevent "engagement, production, sharing and discussion of Facebook content", and that he had seen a significant increase in false reports. Old coffins AFP has published half a dozen fact-checks debunking false claims made on Facebook and Twitter after the Easter attacks. Some had dug out photos of coffins and funerals from Sri Lanka's brutal decades-long civil war and claimed they showed victims of the blasts. One video posted to Facebook showed police arresting a man dressed in a burqa and claimed he was involved in the bombings. The video was actually from 2018, and showed a man who had used a burqa to hide his identity while he sought to attack someone over a debt issue. Another used a five-year-old photo from India that showed a group of men wearing T-shirts with "ISIS", another name for Islamic State, written on them to claim there was an active IS cell in eastern Sri Lanka. One Twitter user claiming to be a high-ranking Sri Lankan army brigadier used the platform to accuse neighbouring India of being involved in the attacks. The account was later taken down by Twitter after the Sri Lankan army complained. Authorities in Sri Lanka -- where ethnic divisions still linger after decades of war -- previously blocked Facebook in March 2018 after Buddhist hardliners used incendiary posts to fan religious violence that left three people dead and reduced several hundred homes and shops to ashes. The surge in fake news has further blemished the troubled reputation of social media -- which several years ago had been seen as a means to expand freedom of information -- in the region. In India, authorities have temporarily shut down mobile networks or blocked social media apps during riots, while critics say the spread of hate speech via Facebook was crucial in facilitating a brutal 2017 military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. Since the attacks, Sri Lankan authorities have imposed other short bans on social media, including earlier this month after mobs in the northwestern town of Chilaw attacked Muslim-owned businesses in anger at a Facebook post by a shopkeeper. No answer But for those unaware of the government ban or unable to circumvent it, the blocking of social media in the days following the attacks was a cause for panic. A Sydney-based engineer was desperate to call his sister in Colombo soon after hearing about the Easter blasts, but could not get through. "I kept calling her on WhatsApp, but there was no reply. We are so used to calling on WhatsApp, I had forgotten her landline number," the Sri Lankan-born engineer said. Fortunately, he said, he managed to call a friend in Colombo who was using a VPN to access WhatsApp and told him about the social media ban that prevented him from reaching his sister.

Fake news rampant after Sri Lanka attacks despite social media ban

The restrictions, which were put into place quickly after attacks at three churches and three high-end hotels killed more than 250 people in Sri Lanka, reflected increasing global concern about the role that American-owned networks play in spreading hate speech and inciting communal violence.

Sri Lanka blasts: Lanka government revokes ban on social media and messaging apps

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