Australia’s world-first ban on social media for under-16s has taken effect, prompting platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick and Twitch to remove young users’ accounts or face fines of up to $49.5m.
Early rollout issues have seen some under-16s pass facial age checks while others lose access, sparking mixed reactions from parents.
Some say their children are distressed or learning to bypass restrictions with VPNs, while others welcome the ban as overdue support against social media addiction.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the policy “won’t be 100% perfect” but said its message is clear. The move has drawn global attention, with several countries and the EU considering similar measures.
eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant will now require platforms to report how many accounts they have removed and how they are preventing circumvention.
An independent evaluation will assess both benefits and unintended consequences, including whether teens move to less regulated corners of the internet.
Source: The Guardian.
