Australia has banned social media for children under the age of 16, know what the government’s new rules are for children

Australia will soon become the first country in the world to ban children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on social media platforms. This rule will come into effect on December 10, 2024 under the “Online Safety Amendment Bill” passed in November 2024. Its main objective is to protect children from online harmful content and cyber threats.

Let’s know how the ban will be implemented?
According to the government, this is not a complete ban, but rather a delay in creating accounts until the age of 16. Children will not be able to create accounts on platforms deemed “age-restricted”. Social media companies will be required to take necessary steps to verify the age of users. If the rules are not followed, only the platforms will face punishment, not the children or their parents.

Which platforms will be banned?
This restriction will apply to those sites where social interaction is highest. These include: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Threads, Reddit, and Kik. Children will be able to watch videos on these platforms, but will not be able to post or comment because they do not have an account. On the other hand, Discord, Twitch, Messenger, WhatsApp, GitHub, Google Classroom, Lego Play, Roblox, Steam and YouTube Kids will be exempt from this rule. According to the e-Safety Commissioner, the list may change in the future.

What will happen to existing accounts?
All accounts of children under the age of 16 must be deactivated or deleted before December 10, 2025. Platforms are instructed to inform each user about the rules. If a platform fails to comply with these rules, it can be fined up to $49.5 million (around ₹400 crore). Companies will be required to use age-related signals such as profile photos, content interactions and account history to verify age.