UPDATE: Australia is set to enforce a strict 16-year age limit on social media platforms, with potential fines reaching $33 million for non-compliance starting December 10, 2023. In an urgent announcement made on Wednesday, Communications Minister Anika Wells outlined the new regulations that mandate these platforms to report monthly on the removal of accounts belonging to users under 16.
From next week, major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube will face hefty penalties if they fail to effectively manage the age restrictions. The Australian eSafety Commissioner is scheduled to issue compliance notices to these platforms on December 11, initiating a six-month monitoring period.
This move highlights the Australian government’s commitment to protecting children online. Wells stated at the National Press Club of Australia, “The government recognizes that age assurance may require several days or weeks to complete fairly and accurately.” However, she warned that platforms could incur fines if the eSafety regulator identifies systemic breaches.
In a significant shift, Google has confirmed it will sign out all Australians under 16 from YouTube starting December 10, effectively stripping them of features accessible only to account holders. Google will determine users’ ages based on personal data from associated accounts. A spokesperson criticized the legislation, saying, “This rushed legislation misunderstands our platform and does not fulfill its promise to make kids safer online.”
Meanwhile, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that it will begin removing suspected underage users from its platforms from Thursday onwards. Users aged 16 and above who are mistakenly removed can appeal through the Yoti Age Verification system by submitting government-issued identification or a video selfie.
The new regulations have triggered a backlash from advocacy groups. The Digital Freedom Project, based in Sydney, is seeking a High Court injunction to halt the legislation from taking effect next week. As of now, no court hearing date has been scheduled.
Wells emphasized the importance of this law, stating, “Over the coming months, we will fight to defend this law in the High Court because parents … right across Australia asked for government to step up.” This follows similar actions taken by the Malaysian government, which plans to ban social media accounts for under-16s starting in 2026.
The development comes as several countries, including members of the European Commission and nations like France and New Zealand, are also exploring age restrictions for social media platforms. With these global movements towards stricter regulations, the landscape of social media usage for minors is rapidly changing.
As the December deadline approaches, the eyes of both the public and the tech industry are on Australia. The implications for children and their online safety are profound, and how these platforms adapt will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
