The Australian government has approved a law setting a minimum age requirement of 16 for social media users.
Compliance with the new rules will be the responsibility of social media platforms, which are required to take reasonable measures to prevent users under 16 from registering. Platforms that fail to comply face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately 32.3 million USD).
The new law applies to platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and X. However, access to messaging apps, online games, and educational or health-related resources, including Headspace, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom, and YouTube, will remain open.
Australia is the first country in the world to implement a nationwide age restriction for social media use. However, similar measures are already in place in certain U.S. states. For instance, in Florida, children under 14 are prohibited from using platforms like Instagram and Facebook, while in Utah, parental consent is required for users under 18.
