In a landmark move, Australia has enacted the world’s first nationwide prohibition on social media access for individuals under 16, prompting major platforms to adapt swiftly to the new regulations.
Elon Musk’s X announced on Wednesday its intention to adhere to this stringent Australian policy aimed at shielding minors from online harms. “It’s not our choice—it’s what the Australian law requires,” the platform stated in an official release, coinciding with the law’s activation.
Once called Twitter, X emerged as the final among 10 scrutinized social media services to outline its compliance strategy for the ban. Now, every major player—including Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok—has pledged actions to identify and eliminate accounts held by Australian users below the age threshold.
Noncompliance carries steep penalties: platforms risk fines up to US$33 million for neglecting “reasonable steps” to block underage participation. The Australian authorities justify these bold restrictions as essential safeguards against “predatory algorithms” that inundate young users’ devices with content promoting bullying, explicit material, and aggression.
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