Australia to enforce social media age limit of 16 next week
The Australian government is cracking down on social media platforms as they enforce a 16-year age limit for users. Starting next week, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube will be required to report monthly on how many children’s accounts they have closed.
Failure to comply with this new regulation could result in fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million). The eSafety Commissioner will be monitoring the platforms closely and sending notices to ensure they are taking the necessary steps to remove accounts of children under 16.
Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized the importance of age verification to protect young users online. If platforms are found to be in violation of the law, they could face penalties imposed by the court.
Tech giant Google announced that users in Australia under 16 will be signed out of YouTube and lose access to certain features reserved for account holders. Age verification will be based on personal data associated with Google accounts.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has already begun removing suspected underage users from their platforms. Account holders who are mistakenly removed can verify their age through Yoti Age Verification.
Despite the government’s efforts to safeguard children online, the Digital Freedom Project in Sydney is seeking an injunction from the High Court to delay the implementation of the new law. The court hearing date is pending.
This move by Australia follows similar actions taken by the Malaysian government to ban social media accounts for children under 16 by 2026. Other countries, including the European Commission, France, Denmark, Greece, Romania, and New Zealand, are also considering implementing minimum age requirements for social media platforms.
As the landscape of social media regulation continues to evolve globally, it is crucial for platforms to prioritize the safety and well-being of young users. Parents and policymakers alike are calling for increased measures to protect children in the digital age.
