Australia has banned social media for young children. Could the U.S. be next?

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Regulators, parents and teens are closely watching a new social media ban in Australia , which is gaining interest in the U.S., with at least ten states looking at similar proposals.

Australia’s new law, which took effect Wednesday, requires ten of the biggest platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, to block access to kids under 16 or face millions of dollars in fines.

Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is leading a bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill for a similar ban in this country.

“For years, families across the country have been suffering from the mental health crisis precipitated by social media platforms. And it’s well past time that Congress act,” he said on the Senate floor.

Under the “Kids Off Social Media Act,” children