The new law penalizes social media companies with fines up
to 50 million Australian dollars (£25m) if they allow under-16s to create
accounts.
In a global first, Australian senators have approved a law
restricting social media accounts for individuals under 16.
The legislation is set to come into force in November 2025.
The law introduces some of the strictest social media
regulations globally, requiring platforms to implement robust age-verification
measures.
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, and X
could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (£25m) if they fail to
prevent children under 16 from creating accounts.
Companies will have one year to develop and enforce
compliance measures before the fines are imposed.
In September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced
plans to pilot age verification technology as a step toward enforcing the ban
on under-16s using social media.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, defended its
approach of maintaining a minimum age of 13 and focusing on empowering youth
and supporting parents rather than eliminating access.
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