Australian lawmakers have passed a bill banning the use of social media by children under 16.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the legislation a "world-leading action" to prevent the psychological harm social media can cause minors.

He told reporters on Friday platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of the children is a priority for them. He said: "We're making sure that mums and dads can have a different conversation today and in future days. 'We've got your back' is our message to Australian parents."

The legislation is expected to go into effect in about a year. The bill requires operators of social media platforms to take measures to stop children from setting up accounts. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X and Facebook are among the targets.

Violators would face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars, or about 32 million US dollars. But there would be no penalties for young rule-breakers or their parents.

Opinion polls in the country show almost 80 percent in favor of the prohibition.

A 14-year-old boy in Sydney said the ban would be good for teenagers.

A girl the same age said even though the ban has merits, such as helping prevent disinformation from spreading, it might also hurt teenagers' social lives, and in that sense she feels politicians are "overdoing" things.