US EditionAustralia to enforce social media age limit of 16 next week with fines up to $33 million
The ban targets platforms with 86% of Australian children aged 8-15 active online; fines up to AUD 49.5 million will apply for noncompliance, officials say.
- Communications Minister Anika Wells said starting December 10, platforms must prevent under-16 users or face fines up to $49.5 million AUD, with notices to be sent next week to verify December 9 accounts.
- With nearly 86 per cent usage among 8–15‑year‑olds, officials note the scale of the cohort and the government's view of the measure as a 'moral imperative' to protect children, said Wells.
- Privacy and security experts caution that age checks using ConnectID or k‑ID collect sensitive data and pose risks, while VPN providers expect a rise in workarounds that endanger children.
- Several platforms have already started preparations, and TikTok said it will deactivate accounts from December 10 when behaviours indicate users are below 16, with platforms facing monthly information requests for six months from the eSafety Commission.
- Lemon8 and Yope are drawing scrutiny after surging in the charts, and eSafety has written to them to self-assess under new laws, with Julie Inman‑Grant saying, "We will be watching the migratory patterns, and we'll be talking to these companies.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Australia Enacts World-First Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Australia will next week impose a world-first ban on under-16s using major social media platforms, brushing aside criticism from YouTube and internet freedom groups as it moves to shield children from what it calls “predatory algorithms”. From December 10, platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube will be required to remove underage accounts or face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (€28 million). Hundreds of thousands of young …
Associated Press News
Australia to enforce social media age limit of 16 next week with fines up to $33 million
Australia is set to enforce its age limit for social media accounts starting next week, and the platforms must provide monthly reports on how many children's accounts they have closed or face fines.
Minister Stands Firm on Under-16 Social Media Ban as High Court Challenge Looms
CANBERRA, Australia—Days after teenagers lodged a High Court challenge to overturn Australia’s looming social-media ban, federal Communications Minister Anika Wells has vowed to defend the law—saying she has the backing of parents to do so. “They (parents) know, and we know that this will not be perfect … but for the seven out of 10 kids who witness online harm, we have to give this a crack,” Wells told the National Press Club, one week before t…
Even platforms exempt from the social media ban aren't safe
The list of age-restricted social media platforms could grow even after Australia's under-16s social media ban comes into effect on December 10.Even platforms that are are currently exempt from the ban could later be included.Minister for Communications Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant anticipate that under-16s will migrate to other platforms when their Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok accounts are deactivated nex…
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