Sameera Casmod | sameerc@radioislam.co.za
19 September 2024 | 12:52 p.m. SAST
2-minute read

Australia’s plans to ban social media for minors

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week announced plans to ban social media for children under the age of 16. As a first step, the Australian government will conduct an age verification trial in the next few months.

“The Australian authorities proposed that legislation should be drawn up that imposes fines on social media companies that fail to prevent children from accessing their platforms,” political analyst and Research Associate Sanusha Naidu said on this week’s Asia Pacific Report.

The proposal aims to control the amount of time children spend on social media platforms and to facilitate an increase in their physical fitness.

Additionally, the plan is to increase the regulated use of social media content- which is often difficult to monitor- and mitigate its risks.

The move is in support of parents who have voiced concerns about the harms of social media and the type of content that is available to their children.

The new restrictions come after Australia placed a ban on the use of smartphones in public schools in October last year. The new ban is more comprehensive and means that social media will be off limits for children across all devices no matter where they are.

The announcement has been met with considerable criticism, with some analysts suggesting that a complete social media ban would block some of the social advantages that could be helpful to minors.

Medical spending in China to increase as diet shifts from grain to more meat

The change from a grain-based diet to one that is higher in protein and inclusive of more animal products is likely to cost Chinese people $14 billion in health spending.

Research conducted between 1992 and 2021 indicates a correlation between increased meat consumption and greater food-borne health expenditure.

As a result of dietary burden, there is an increased investment in healthcare in the country, which affects the economic progress of the country, the report said.

De-escalating tensions between India and China amid diplomatic efforts

Diplomatic discussions were conducted between Indian and Chinese authorities on the sidelines of the BRICS NSA Meeting in the capital city of St Petersburg in Russia last week.

The agreement to work with urgency and redouble their efforts to realise complete disengagement in affected areas marks a significant stride in the continuous battle between New Delhi and Beijing, which has in the past threatened stability in the region.

“Both sides have decided to think about resolving outstanding issues, looking at the line of control over the border area, and how this will stabilise relations,” Naidu said.

A statement released by the India’s Ministry of External Affairs indicated that the meeting was an opportunity to review efforts towards finding a resolution for the Line of Actual Control (LAC), thereby creating conditions to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations.

Listen to the Asia-Pacific Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.