By Alasdair Pal SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that social media platforms now have a responsibility to ensure the safety of children, after the country's parliament passed a bill banning those under the age of 16 from using the services.

Australian lawmakers have passed a bill banning the use of social media by children under 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the legislation a "world-leading action" to prevent the psychological harm social media can cause minors.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday social media firms would be required to destroy personal data used to verify ages of users, as part of what the government says is a world-leading ban on under-16s using the services.