Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is preparing to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he plans to advocate for international cooperation in regulating social media platforms. His focus will be on addressing the impact of social media on children, a concern that has driven his push for a ban on children under 16 from having social media accounts. Implemented a year ago, this policy has led to the closure of up to 5 million accounts in Australia. Albanese is now aiming to introduce new legislation that would require social media companies to take a "digital duty of care" and allow users to opt out of algorithmic content recommendations. He hopes to position Australia as a global leader in digital safety, though he acknowledges the challenges ahead both at home and abroad. Public support for these measures appears strong, with 66% of Australian voters in favor of algorithm opt-out requirements, compared to just 13% who oppose them. However, the government is also navigating concerns about the environmental impact of Australia's rapidly expanding datacentre industry and discussions about copyright protections for artificial intelligence development. Professor Tama Leaver of Curtin University points out that Australia’s leadership in digital safety is notable for a smaller nation, though the extent of its influence on global policy may be overestimated. Similar regulatory efforts are emerging worldwide. In the Netherlands, a court recently ordered Meta to allow users to block algorithmic recommendations, while in the United States, Meta agreed to an $18 billion settlement with state governments over claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed children. These developments suggest a growing international movement toward holding big tech companies accountable. However, Albanese’s proposed legislation has drawn criticism from the opposition, who argue it could be used to suppress conservative voices without proper safeguards. The Greens, a key ally in passing the laws, believe the plan is not stringent enough and advocate for an opt-in system for algorithmic content instead of an opt-out. Albanese also faces potential political pressures in the United States, where the White House might urge Australia to avoid targeting U.S.-owned tech companies. He plans to address these issues during upcoming international meetings, including discussions with leaders from the Commonwealth, ASEAN, APEC, and the G20. Despite the ban on children under 16 using social media, research shows that over 80% of teens in this age group are still active on social media. To enforce compliance, the government has increased penalties and expanded the powers of the eSafety commissioner. Similar age restrictions are being considered in Greece, Britain, and Denmark, while countries like China, Indonesia, and Malaysia already have similar rules in place. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed an "EU Kids Act" inspired by Australia's approach, highlighting the need to address the power of large technology companies. While the immediate effects of Australia's social media ban may be limited, experts suggest its long-term success could depend on younger users aging out of the affected age group. They also note that Australia’s regulatory efforts may influence other countries as they develop their own frameworks for digital safety. Meanwhile, the Australian eSafety commissioner’s office acknowledges the difficulty of changing entrenched industry practices, while parents and advocates stress the need for time to assess the effectiveness of the ban.