Australia has just set a minimum age limit for social media use at 16 years, becoming one of the first countries in the world to do so legally. The law makes it illegal for anyone under 16 years to hold social media accounts on major platforms like Instagram and TikTok, carrying heavy fines in case of a breach.

Social media platforms would be required to take steps to prevent young people from signing up, with significant financial penalties if they don't comply. The bill protects the need to balance online protection with access to vital services, such as educational resources and mental health support.

The Key Points:

• Under the legislation, children below 16 years of age would not be allowed on social media; the platforms could be fined up to $49.5 million for systematic violations.

• Platforms and not parents or children must be responsible for preventing underage access to social media while making sure that privacy protection is indeed assured.

• The legislation applies to major platforms: Snapchat, TikTok, Meta's Facebook and Instagram, and others, without getting in the way of educational and support services access.

• Implementation will happen in the next 12 months in which alternatives to government-issued ID are needed to verify one's age to comply with new regulations.

Big Picture: The implications of this law go well beyond the borders of Australia. It is a challenge to the hands-off approach to social media regulation and could spark a global movement toward stricter protection for young users, with its effects felt in regulatory frameworks right around the world. This could fundamentally reshape how social media companies operate, potentially leading to new technological solutions.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.