UPDATE: Australia is set to enforce a strict 16-year age limit on social media platforms starting December 10, 2023, with fines reaching $33 million for non-compliance. This significant development comes following a ministerial announcement made just yesterday, establishing urgent measures to protect children online.
From next week, major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube will be required to report monthly on the number of children’s accounts they remove. If they fail to adequately close accounts belonging to users under the age of 16, they could face hefty fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars.
Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized the importance of these regulations during a press conference at the National Press Club of Australia. “The government recognizes that age assurance may take days or weeks to complete fairly and accurately,” she stated. However, platforms that are found to have systemic breaches could face maximum penalties imposed by the courts.
In a move to comply, Google announced that users in Australia under 16 will be automatically signed out of YouTube starting on December 10, losing access to features exclusive to account holders, such as playlists. Google will assess users’ ages using personal data from their Google accounts.
The backlash is already underway. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, confirmed that suspected underage users will be removed from its platforms beginning today. Users aged 16 and above who believe they were mistakenly removed can appeal through a third-party service, Yoti Age Verification, by submitting a government-issued ID or a video selfie.
Adding to the urgency, the Digital Freedom Project in Sydney is seeking a High Court injunction to halt the legislation from taking effect next week. As of now, no court hearing date has been set. Wells insisted, “Over the coming months, we will fight to defend this law in the High Court because parents right across Australia asked for the government to step up.”
Internationally, similar measures are gaining traction. The Malaysian government revealed plans to ban social media accounts for under-16s starting in 2026, while countries like France, Denmark, and New Zealand are exploring similar age restrictions.
As this situation develops, the implications for families and children across Australia are profound. This legislation is poised to reshape how social media companies operate while addressing growing concerns over children’s safety online.
Stay tuned for updates as the situation unfolds in the coming days.
