John Swinney considers call for under-16 social media ban

The debate around social media has intensified after the Australian government said it would ban it for under 16s.

Unlike attempted restrictions elsewhere in the world, it will not include exemptions for existing users or those with parental consent.

Tech firms could be fined up to A$50m (£25.7m) if they do not comply.

The ban will apply to Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. Gaming and messaging platforms are exempt, as are sites that can be accessed without an account, meaning YouTube is unlikely to be banned.

Calls for stricter controls have been made for about a decade, but have proved difficult to enact in the face of fierce opposition from tech firms with vast resources.

The European Union previously abandoned a plan to prevent social media firms from processing personal data belonging to under-16s unless their parents had given consent.