A major shift is coming for social media users in Australia, as children under 16 will soon be barred from accessing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Starting December 10, the new Online Safety Regulation will take effect, marking a global first in protecting minors from online dangers.
However, children below 16 can still use these platforms if their parents or guardians provide consent. Social media companies that fail to comply with the regulation could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately ₹270 crore).
According to Australia’s Online Safety Act, if a child under 16 has created a social media account without parental consent, it will be deactivated. Before deletion, users will receive a notice allowing them to download their data, freeze their account, or delete it permanently.
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Instead of verifying age through ID documents, platforms will use artificial intelligence to estimate a user’s age based on their online activity — including likes, comments, and engagement patterns. If a user believes their age has been incorrectly assessed, they can verify it through a selfie. Yoti, the company behind this AI-based verification technology, has said that it might take several weeks for users to adjust to the process.
Which apps are screened under this law?
Apps including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, X, Kick, and Threads must comply with this rule. Meanwhile, a few online services like WhatsApp, Messenger, YouTube Kids, Roblox, Discord, Steam, GitHub, LEGO Play, and Google Classroom will still be allowed for users under 16.
