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Australia will prohibit minors under 16 from using social media.

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The goal of the proposed bill, which will be presented to parliament next week, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is to lessen the “harm” that social media causes to Australian youngsters.

“This one’s for the parents… They share my extreme concern for our children’s online safety. Albanese expressed his desire for Australian families to understand that the government is on their side.

Although the specifics are still being discussed, the government has stated that there would be no exceptions for parental agreement and that the ban will not apply to youngsters who are currently engaged on social media. Social media companies will have to demonstrate that they are taking appropriate precautions to keep minors off of their sites. There are no consequences for users, and the eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s internet regulator, will enforce the rule.

The law will go into effect 12 months after it is passed, and it will then be reviewed. Though perspectives on whether a ban is the right course of action vary, many experts concur that social media can negatively impact adolescents’ mental health. Some others think that rather than teaching kids how to use social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok securely, restrictions just postpone their introduction to these sites.

Age-verification procedures have encountered difficulties in other regions, such as the European Union, where similar limits have proven challenging. Major advocacy group Australia’s Child Rights Taskforce called the new law “too blunt” and asked the government to think about “safety standards” instead. In an open letter, the organization referenced UN recommendations for regulations that allow kids to interact with digital spaces in a secure way instead of limiting their access.

Some activists, however, are in favor of the ban, pointing to worries about kids being exposed to harmful content, false information, and cyberbullying. Currently, “excessive social media use is rewiring young brains within a critical window of psychological development, causing an epidemic of mental illness,” according to the 36Months initiative, which has amassed over 125,000 signatures. It contends that children are “not yet ready to navigate online social networks safely” until they are at least age 16.

Albanese stated that education alone is insufficient since it “assumes an equal power relationship.” This begs the question of whether the emphasis should instead be on educating kids how to manage the advantages and risks of the online environment.

“I don’t want to see some items that keep coming up on my system; I’m not sure about you. Let alone a 14-year-old who is so vulnerable,” he stated on Thursday. “These tech firms are really strong. These apps’ algorithms encourage users to act in particular ways.

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Irfan Siddiqui meets with the PM and informs him about the Senate performance of the parliamentary party.

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The head of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Standing Committee and the PML-N’s parliamentary leader paid Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif a visit in Islamabad.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Parliamentary Party’s Senate performance.

Additionally, Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs’ performance.

He complimented the Prime Minister on his outstanding efforts to bring Pakistan’s economy back on track and meet its economic objectives.

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SIFC Increases Direct Foreign Investment: Investment in the Energy Sector Rises by 120%

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The Special Investment Facilitation Council is intended to help Pakistan’s energy sector attract $585.6 million in direct foreign investment in 2024–2025. The amount invested at the same time previous year was $266.3 million.

This is a notable 120% rise, mostly due to investments in gas exploration, oil, and power. Such expansion indicates heightened investor confidence and emphasizes the development potential in important areas.

The State Bank reports that foreign investment in other vital industries has increased by 48% to $771 million.

This advancement is a blatant testament to SIFC’s efficient investment procedure and quick project execution.

The purpose of the Special Investment Facilitation Council is to establish Pakistan as an investment hub by aggressively promoting regional trade and investment in the energy sector and other critical industries.

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Speaking to a press conference, Marriyum Aurangzeb says the PML-N government has restored the trust of investors.

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According to Marriyum Aurangzeb, senior Punjab minister, the PML-N government has won back the trust of investors by making strides in a number of areas, including agriculture.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, speaking at a press conference in Lahore, emphasized the Punjab government’s initiatives to bring about major changes in the province, particularly in Lahore.

Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that in order to guarantee sustainable growth, the master plan for Lahore has been completed, and plans of a similar nature are being worked on for other districts.

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