BRISBANE – Children across Australia will wake up today (Wednesday) with no access to their social media accounts under a world-first ban designed to shelter those under 16 from addictive algorithms, online predators, and digital bullies. No other nation has taken such sweeping measures, and the rollout of the tough new law is being closely watched by legislators around the globe. Most of the 10 banned platforms – Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Reddit, Twitch and X – say they’ll comply with the ban, using age verification technology to identify under-16s and suspend their accounts, but they don’t believe it’ll make children safer. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is already touting the ban as a success because families are talking about social media use. Some children – and their parents – are expected to flout the ban, but there are no consequences for either. “We’ve said very clearly that this won’t be perfect… but it’s the right thing to do for society to express its views, its judgment, about what is appropriate,” Albanese told the public broadcaster ABC on Sunday. Under the law, platforms need to show they’ve taken “reasonable steps” to deactivate accounts used by under-16s, and to prevent new accounts being opened, to avoid fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million). YouTube account holders will be automatically signed out on December 10. Their channels will no longer be visible; however, their data will be saved so they can reactivate their accounts when they turn 16. Children will still be able to watch YouTube without logging in. TikTok says all accounts used by under-16s will be deactivated on December 10. It says it doesn’t matter which email is used or whose name is on the account – its age verification technology will determine who’s using it. Content previously posted by young users will no longer be viewable. The platform’s also encouraging parents who believe their children may have lied about their age when opening accounts to report them. Twitch says no under-16s in Australia will be allowed to create new accounts on the live streaming site popular with gamers from December 10, but current accounts held by under-16s will not be deactivated until January 9. The company did not respond to a request to explain the delay. Meta started removing accounts belonging to teens under 16. on Instagram, Facebook and Threads on December 4. Users were invited to download their content, and it’ll be there should they want to reactivate their account when they turn 16. Reddit said it would suspend the accounts of users under 16, and prevent any new ones being opened.
X has not replied to queries about how it’ll comply with the ban but fiercely objects to the legislation as an infringement of free speech. Kick, a live streaming service similar to Twitch, has not responded to a request for comment. Along with the list of banned sites is a list of platforms that aren’t considered part of the ban – yet. They are Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids.
The decision to omit Roblox was seen by many Australians as a puzzling choice, given recent reports alleging children have been targeted by adult predators inside its games.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant has said that talks with Roblox began in June and it agreed to introduce new controls which are being rolled out this month in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, and elsewhere in January. Users will need to verify their age to enable chat functions, and they’ll only be able to chat with someone of a similar age.
