The Australian senate's passed world-first laws preventing under 16s from using social media.  

The ban will come into force at the end of next year, and social media companies will face fines if they fail to take reasonable steps to keep children off.  

The ABC reports the late vote last night came as the government rammed through most of its legislative agenda on the final sitting day of the year.  

Australia correspondent Murray Olds told Mike Hosking that messaging apps will be exempt.  

He says the onus will be on companies to check the ages of users, and he questions what's stopping a 14-year-old saying they're older. 

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