SYDNEY  –  Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under 16 took effect on Wednesday, barring young people from creating or holding accounts on platforms such as Instagram, Tik­Tok and Snapchat. The legislation came into effect a year after the bill was fast-tracked through parliament amid widespread public support, with the measures aimed at protect­ing young users from potential risks to mental and physical health posed by social media. Speaking at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the landmark reform will “reverberate around the world.” “This is indeed a proud day to be Australian, because make no mistake, this reform will change lives for Aus­tralian kids…but also for the global community,” Albanese said, noting that the world is “watching and fol­lowing” Australia’s move. “Technol­ogy can have an amazing impact on making our life easier, but it is im­portant as technology develops that humans keep control,” Albanese said. Facebook, Kick, Reddit, Threads, Twitch, X and YouTube are also sub­ject to the ban, while messaging plat­forms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, and gaming platforms like Roblox and Discord, are not sub­ject to the restrictions. Under the law, age-restricted platforms are required to take “reasonable steps” to prevent those under the age of 16 in Australia from having accounts, or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million ($32.9 mil­lion). This includes finding and deac­tivating the existing accounts of those under 16, stopping new accounts from being created, and prevent­ing workarounds that could allow young users to bypass restrictions. Children and parents will not be pe­nalised for breaches of the law, with the onus for compliance placed on the tech companies alone. Platforms are employing a range of methods to verify users’ ages, as they cannot re­quire government-issued identifica­tion as the sole means of verification. Snapchat, a popular image, video and text messaging app, prompted some users in the weeks leading up to the ban to verify their age by linking an Australian bank account, providing government-issued ID or uploading a selfie for analysis by facial age-es­timation software. The landmark leg­islation has drawn both praise and criticism from experts, with some expressing concerns over data privacy and the risk of increased social isolation or exclusion for some young people. Su­sanne Schweizer, an associate professor of psychology at the University of New South Wales, warned that some children, particularly those belonging to minor­ity groups or in remote areas, could “lose a lifeline” to connections with peers online. But she also expressed cautious hope that, if paired with heavy investment in education on how to safely interact online, the ban could be “potentially a good thing” by giving young people more time away from social media. Among the par­ents who have campaigned hard for the ban is 57-year-old Robb Evans, whose daughter Liv died by suicide in 2023 at age 15 after battling an eating disorder fueled by problem­atic posts on social media. “My belief is that it will save lives,” Evans said in a recent interview with Kyodo News, noting that it is a necessary start even if it is not going to be perfect. 

ELON MUSK’S X SAYS BARRING UNDER-16S IN AUSTRALIA ‘NOT OUR CHOICE’ 

Elon Musk’s X said on Wednesday it would comply with Australia’s world-leading crackdown banning under-16s from social media. “It’s not our choice — it’s what the Aus­tralian law requires,” the company said in a statement as the legislation came into effect. Formerly known as Twitter, X was the last of 10 restrict­ed social media platforms to set out how it will implement Australia’s ban. All platforms — including Face­book, YouTube and TikTok — have now agreed to take steps to remove young users.