Australia to introduce fines up to $33 million for social media age limit violation starting next week

MELBOURNE, Australia Starting next week, social media companies will be required to report monthly on the number of accounts they deactivate for children under 16, according to a government announcement on Wednesday.

Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube will face fines up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) if they fail to take adequate measures to remove accounts belonging to Australian users below the age limit. Twitch, a livestreaming service, was recently added to the list of age-restricted platforms.

The Australian eSafety Commissioner will issue notices to these ten platforms on Dec. 11 requesting detailed information about the accounts removed. This reporting will continue monthly for six months.

Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized at the National Press Club that age verification may take days or weeks to complete accurately. However, she warned that systemic violations will result in penalties. The eSafety regulator confirmed that repeated noncompliance could trigger maximum fines imposed by the courts.

Google announced that from Dec. 10, all users under 16 in Australia will be automatically signed out of YouTube, losing access to features like playlists. The company will estimate account holders ages using information from their Google accounts and other indicators. Google criticized the law, stating it misunderstands the platform and the way young Australians interact online, while failing to enhance online safety effectively.

Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, stated that accounts suspected of belonging to underage users will be removed starting Thursday. Users aged 16 or older who are mistakenly removed can verify their age through Yoti Age Verification using government ID or a video selfie.

The Sydney-based advocacy group Digital Freedom Project is seeking a High Court injunction to block the law before it takes effect, although no court date has been set.

Minister Wells expressed support for the legislation, highlighting that parents nationwide requested stronger government action. She also noted that other countries, including Malaysia, the European Union, France, Denmark, Greece, Romania, and New Zealand, are exploring similar minimum age requirements for social media platforms.

Author: Sophia Brooks