Australia’s Bold Move: Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16 Starts in December
Australia is taking a big step to protect young kids from social media dangers. Starting December 10, tech giants like Facebook and Instagram must spot and shut down accounts belonging to children under 16. The government dropped new rules on Tuesday to help companies get ready for this world-first under-16 social media ban.
These guidelines make it clear what platforms need to do. First, they’ll focus on finding and deactivating existing accounts for kids younger than 16. They’ll also have to block these children from jumping right back with a new account. But here’s the good news for companies: they won’t need to check everyone’s age or use specific tech tools picked by the government.
Instead, social media platforms must share clear info on how they’re enforcing the under-16 social media ban. They also need a simple way for users to dispute decisions if something goes wrong. This approach keeps things practical while aiming to keep kids safe online.
The law behind this ban passed Australia’s parliament in December 2024. If companies don’t take "reasonable steps" to follow it, they could face hefty fines—up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, or about $33 million. That’s a strong push to make sure everyone plays by the rules.
At a press conference, Communications Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant explained that the ban won’t be perfect overnight. "We’re not expecting instant perfection," Wells said. "These are groundbreaking laws that demand real change. They aim to shift online culture and create a safer space for kids."
Grant added that building the right systems will take time. Her team plans to start by tackling big failures from platforms, like not following their own policies. This comes after an August trial showed that age assurance technologies can work well to check age limits on social media.
Australia’s under-16 social media ban is setting a global example, sparking talks on how to balance tech innovation with child safety. As the deadline nears, watch how big platforms adapt to keep young users off their sites.
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