SYDNEY, Dec 5 (Reuters) - American talk show host Oprah

Winfrey has praised Australia's decision to ban social media for

under-16s from next week, saying the move would help young

people socialise more.

The law, due to take effect on December 10, will block children

and teenagers from platforms such as TikTok, Meta's

Instagram and Snap's Snapchat. The government says the

ban will protect young people from harmful content and online

predators.

"I think you're going to change the lives of an entire

generation of kids who are going to have better lives," Winfrey

said at an event in Sydney on Thursday night, according to local

media.

Winfrey, who is currently on a nationwide speaking tour of

Australia, said she was particularly concerned about the impact

of the internet on young boys.

"There are all of these young people who cannot actually

communicate or have a conversation, particularly young boys

because they become addicted to porn so early and don't know how

to actually ask somebody out on a date, haven't experienced the

socialisation of talking to a real person," she said.

"So once again, Australia leads the way for the rest of the

world."

Governments across the world are watching the impact of the ban,

a world first that carries a fine of up to A$49.5 million ($33

million). The majority of affected platforms have said they will

comply.

Some 96% of Australian teenagers under 16 - more than a

million of the country's 27 million population - have social

media accounts, according to Australia's internet regulator.