Apple Executive Chair Tim Cook praised Australia’s new rule banning children under 16 from using social media as "world-leading" during a recent meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Apple’s headquarters in the United States, according to Albanese. Australia became the first country to implement such a ban in December, aiming to protect younger users from potential harms associated with social media. The rule is part of a broader effort to improve digital safety, with the Australian government also recently introducing a plan that allows social media users to customize the content they see on their feeds. Other nations have taken similar steps this year to address concerns about the impact of social media on young users. The European Commission, for example, has proposed a ban on children under 13 from using major social media platforms. These measures reflect a growing global trend toward stricter regulation of online platforms, particularly when it comes to protecting children from harmful content. During the meeting, an Apple spokesperson referenced a post by Tim Cook on X (formerly Twitter), where he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share "some of our newest innovations, including strong and intuitive controls to help keep kids safe online." Cook, who recently stepped down as Apple CEO after a 15-year tenure, has been a vocal advocate for digital safety and responsible technology use. Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the need for a global framework to manage the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), arguing that humans must remain in control of these technologies. His stance contrasts with that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed skepticism about AI concerns and argued that additional regulation is not needed. The differing perspectives highlight the ongoing debate about how best to balance innovation with safety and ethical considerations in the digital age.