Australia's new social media ban for kids started with a mom saying, "Do something!"

With the world's first social media ban for teenagers under 16 now in effect in Australia, its initial political architect is celebrating a new less-digital era for millions of children — and sharing that the legislation was personally inspired by his wife, for their four children.

"She read a book called 'The Anxious Generation,' by Jonathan Haidt ," said Peter Malinauskas, the premier of the state of South Australia. "And I will never forget the night she finished reading the book and she put it down on her lap and she turned to me and said, 'You better do something about this!'"

Within seven months, and with strong public support, that idea fast became law across the land, winning support from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Ten major apps including TikTok, Instagram, S