Australia’s Social Media Ban for Under-16s Takes Effect December 10
Australia under-16 social media ban, Australia’s government published guidance for technology firms in advance of applying its under-16 social media ban.
The law goes into effect on December 10, with platforms obligated to enforce age limits or else risk severe punishment.
eSafety Commission Releases Guidance and Self-Assessment Tools
The eSafety Commission released papers, including a self-assessment checklist, to help firms determine whether the new legislation covers them.
Platforms centered around education, health, professional networking, and games are potential exceptions from the coming restrictions.
Platforms Likely Affected: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Australia under-16 social media ban, The law will likely directly affect big social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The sites should immediately find and delete under-16 accounts and inform the affected users.
They should ban re-signing up by minors through VPN detection or bypassing restriction attempts.
Those wrongly identified under the law, but above 16, should be offered an appeal option for restoring their account.
Platforms must employ multiple age-verification techniques apart from government-issued identification.
Key Compliance Requirements for Social Media Companies
Businesses must record the verification methods used for compliance but cannot keep personal age-check data.
Platforms can use information such as creation dates to assess compliance with the new limit.
Limited Access Still Possible for Under-16 Users
Even with the prohibition, under-16 account holders will continue to see public content on social media without having to log into accounts.
Access through shared family devices could make enforcement more difficult and enable limited ongoing use by underage users.
Caregivers’ Role in Supporting Children’s Digital Safety
The structure also places a focus on caregiver participation in overseeing children’s online activity and digital safety.
The eSafety Commission aims to publish additional resources to assist families with navigating the changes ahead.
Industry Response and Government’s Warning on Enforcement
The platforms are slated to initiate reviewing account information at once to mark potential underage users.
The government has steered clear of requiring one technology solution, which might mean different enforcement approaches.
Communications Minister Anika Wells reiterated the law will go ahead as planned and cautioned platforms there is no room for non-compliance.