Australia will soon ban social media accounts for anyone under the age of 16. The new law will take effect on December 10, and companies like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will have to follow strict rules or face penalties.
Read more: India Faces Criticism for Blocking Sikh Religious Travel
The eSafety Commission has issued detailed guidance to help platforms prepare. Social media companies must identify and remove accounts held by users under 16, notify them, and block any re-registration attempts. They are also required to use several methods to verify age, but they cannot keep personal data from these checks.
Some services, such as those mainly used for education, health, or professional networking, may not be affected. Even after the ban, under-16 users will still be able to view public content without logging in.
Read more: Ukraine Drone Strikes Spark Fire at Russian
Caregivers are expected to play a bigger role in guiding children’s online activities. Authorities say platforms must start reviewing account data immediately, and Communications Minister Anika Wells has made it clear that there will be no excuse for failing to comply.
