Australia will enforce a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16 starting December 10. Communications Minister Anika Wells announced that Reddit and livestreaming site Kick have joined the list of restricted platforms.
The order also applies to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Threads, X, and YouTube. All must remove or block accounts belonging to Australian users younger than 16. Platforms that fail to take “reasonable steps” face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.3 million).
“We’ve met with several companies this month to make sure they understand there’s no excuse for noncompliance,” Wells said in Canberra. “Social media firms already use advanced technology to target children. We’re demanding they use that same technology to protect them.”
Enforcement and Research Plans Announced
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will oversee enforcement of the new rules. She said the government would adjust the list of restricted platforms as new technologies emerge.
The nine platforms currently covered all have the “primary or significant purpose” of enabling online social interaction, according to the government’s definition. Inman Grant said her office will study how the ban affects young people’s sleep, social lives, and physical activity.
“We’ll examine potential unintended consequences and collect data so other nations can learn from our experience,” she explained.
European leaders have praised Australia’s move. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a “common-sense approach” to protecting children online. Denmark’s ambassador to Australia, Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, said her country will “closely follow Australia’s example.”
Critics Raise Privacy and Policy Concerns
Opponents of the legislation warn that verifying users’ ages could compromise everyone’s privacy. They argue that proof-of-age systems might force adults to share unnecessary personal data.
Minister Wells responded that the government will ensure maximum privacy protection for all users. “We are committed to keeping user data secure while keeping children off unsafe platforms,” she said.
Last year, more than 140 experts in technology and child welfare signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. They described the age ban as “too blunt an instrument” that fails to address the complex risks of social media.
Despite criticism, the government insists the law will set a new international standard for digital child safety. The ban takes effect December 10, marking a major shift in how Australia regulates online platforms.
