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Australia has announced a landmark move to restrict children’s online presence, with a new law banning social media accounts for users under 16. The regulation, effective December 10, will require platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to remove underage accounts or face penalties.
The eSafety Commission has issued detailed compliance guidelines, including a self-assessment tool, to help companies determine if their services fall under the scope of the law. Platforms mainly serving education, health, professional networking, or gaming may be exempt.
Under the new framework, social media companies must remove under-16 accounts, block re-registrations using detection methods such as VPN checks, and provide an appeal system for users wrongly flagged. They are also required to use multiple age verification methods but cannot store personal verification data.
Despite restrictions, children under 16 will still be able to view public content without accounts, while shared devices could complicate enforcement. The government is also urging caregivers to take a stronger role in monitoring digital activity, with additional resources set to be released soon.
Communications Minister Anika Wells warned platforms that there will be “no excuse for non-compliance,” making clear that enforcement will begin immediately. This law reflects Australia’s growing push to protect young users online and could set a precedent for stricter regulations worldwide.
