The First in the World: Australia Bans Social Media for Under-16s

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 2, 2024

In a groundbreaking move, Australia’s Senate has approved a ban on social media access for children under 16. The law, which imposes strict fines on non-compliant companies, aims to safeguard young users’ well-being but has sparked debate over its practicality and potential consequences.

Key Facts

Legislative Milestone: The bill passed Australia’s Senate by a vote of 34 to 19 on Thursday, following overwhelming support in the House earlier this week.
Strict Compliance Timeline: Social media companies have one year to block under-16 users or face fines of up to $33 million.
Government Backing: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the law as a global first, emphasizing its role in protecting young people from social media’s harmful effects.

A Divisive Policy

While the law has garnered praise for its child-centric focus, critics argue that its rushed implementation might create logistical challenges. Detractors, including social media firms, have pointed to unresolved technical issues and potential unintended consequences.

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Proponents’ Perspective: Albanese stressed that the law shifts responsibility to platforms, holding them accountable for safeguarding children. “Social media has a social responsibility,” he said, addressing parents’ concerns about the impact on young users’ mental health and self-esteem.
Industry Concerns: Companies like Google, Meta, and TikTok have called for delays, citing gaps in age verification systems and the risk of broader implications for all Australian users. Elon Musk described the bill as a possible “backdoor to control internet access.”

Broader Context: Global Efforts to Protect Children Online

Australia’s ban may be the strictest yet, but other nations are also taking steps to regulate children’s online activity:

United States: The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) mandates parental consent for data collection from users under 13.
European Union: The Digital Services Act prohibits personalized advertising targeting minors and enforces stricter online protections for children.

Key Takeaway

Australia’s new law sets a precedent in tackling the challenges of social media’s impact on youth, but its execution will be closely watched as the global conversation on children’s online safety evolves.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 24, 2026

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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