Australia will enforce a new law on December 10 that bans children under 16 from using major social media platforms. The government added Reddit and livestreaming site Kick to the growing list of platforms required to remove underage accounts.
Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube are already subject to the rule. “We have met with several platforms so they understand there’s no excuse for failing to comply,” Wells told reporters in Canberra.
Companies that fail to block underage users face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.3 million). Wells said platforms already use technology to target children with ads, so they must use it “to protect them instead.”
Officials Promise Oversight and Research
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will oversee enforcement of the new rule. She said the list of restricted platforms will evolve as new technologies appear. The law applies to services whose main purpose involves online social interaction, according to the government.
Inman Grant announced plans to collaborate with researchers to assess the policy’s broader effects. “We’ll study whether children sleep more, interact more, or become more active,” she said. “We’ll also identify unintended outcomes and gather evidence to help other countries learn from Australia’s approach.”
The move has drawn global attention. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the legislation as “common sense,” while Denmark’s ambassador to Australia said her government will monitor the results closely.
Debate Over Privacy and Policy Impact
Critics warn the new rules could compromise privacy for all users, as everyone must prove they are over 16. More than 140 academics from Australia and abroad signed an open letter opposing the restriction, calling it “too blunt an instrument” to address online risks effectively.
Wells responded that the government remains committed to protecting user privacy while enforcing the ban. “Our focus is safety without unnecessary intrusion,” she said.
Australia’s age restriction represents a world-first attempt to legally hold social platforms accountable for youth protection online—a move many nations are now watching closely.
