Australia boots kids under 16 off social media: how platforms are responding
TL;DR
Australia will ban children under 16 from social media starting December 10th, requiring platforms to implement age verification. This law reflects global trends in online safety regulation.
Australia is joining a wave of governments around the globe in regulating how kids spend their time online. On December 10th, most major social media platforms will boot children in the country under 16 from their services. Under the law, social platforms will also need to implement a "reasonable" age verification method there - while critics argue kids will get around it anyway.
These changes stem from Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, which passed in November 2024. They're not only a big deal for Australian youth, but also a preview of a policy that's been floated in numerous other places. Here's a rund …