Australia’s pioneering new legislation is poised to take effect, prohibiting individuals under the age of 16 from maintaining social media accounts as the government implements one of the globe’s most stringent digital safety regulations.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, enacted by the Australian government in November 2024, will commence enforcement this Wednesday.
“Starting December 10, if you are under 16, you are prohibited from having a social media account,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated in a message broadcast in schools prior to the restrictions, as reported by 9 News Australia. “You understand better than anyone the experience of endless scrolling and the pressures that accompany it.”
The platforms from which young people in Australia will be barred include Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, Twitch, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
Australia’s eSafety commissioner, the independent national online safety regulator, states that the new minimum-age law mandates platforms to implement “reasonable steps” to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account. This includes employing age-verification methods, deleting existing underage users, and stopping them from re-registering using tools like VPN detection.
The eSafety commissioner also anticipates that social media companies will provide transparent appeal processes and support resources for young users whose accounts are disabled.
“eSafety expects providers to initially concentrate on identifying and deactivating/removing existing accounts held by children under 16, including through accessible channels to report underage accounts. This should be paired with clear, prompt communication to those users regarding their account status, instructions for downloading their data, where to find support if distressed, and how to contest or request a review of the platform’s age assessment,” part of the regulatory guidance states.
Non-compliant companies risk fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, approximately $32 million USD.
“We have been clear that this will not be flawless. However, it is correct for society to voice its perspective and judgment on what is suitable,” the Prime Minister remarked.
“When we consider the increase in challenges young people encounter and the societal damage attributed to social media, there is no question that we want children to have the chance to experience their childhood freely, and we also aim to empower parents to engage in these important conversations.”