AUSTRALIA BANS SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER 16s

In November 2024, the Australian Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, prohibiting individuals under 16 from accessing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat.
WIKIPEDIA

The legislation was introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland on September 10, 2024, aiming to safeguard young people's mental and physical health.
WIKIPEDIA

The law stipulates that social media companies must implement age verification measures to enforce this ban, with penalties up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance.
REUTERS

The Act received assent on December 10, 2024, and is scheduled to commence in late 2025, providing a transition period for platforms to establish compliance mechanisms.
WIKIPEDIA

Exemptions exist for services used for health care and education, including Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Google Classroom.
WIKIPEDIA

This initiative positions Australia among the first countries to implement such stringent age-based restrictions on social media usage.