AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES WORLD-FIRST SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR UNDER-16s

Australia is set to implement a world-first social media ban for children under the age of 16, coming into effect this week. The policy will target major platforms, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X(Twitter), among others
The government’s aim is to protect young users from online risks by requiring the platforms to deactivate accounts for under-16s and prevent new sign-ups until users reach 16. The country’s safety Commission will oversee compliance, and platforms that fail to take “reasonable steps” could face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million.
Teens affected by the ban will generally have options to download their content, temporarily deactivate their accounts until they turn 16, or delete their accounts entirely. Snapchat estimates the ban will impact around 440,000 users aged 13 to 15. YouTube has confirmed users will be able to regain access at 16 without losing their content, while other platforms are still finalizing their policies.