Australia is booting kids under 16 off social media. Some senators hope the US is next: 'Our lack of action is inexcusable.'

• Australia's social media ban for children under 16 took effect this week. • Australian lawmakers say the ban will help protect young children from harm on social media. • A group of US lawmakers introduced a similar bill earlier this year.

A law in Australia banning children under 16 from creating social media accounts took effect this week. It was the latest move in a growing global effort to protect young people from the harmful effects of social media.

A group of American senators is hoping the US will do the same.

"Australia is stepping up to protect kids from the addictive and harmful content being constantly fed to them on social media. It's now time for Congress to do the same and pass the Kids Off Social Media Act," Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, a Democrat, said in a statem