How Australia is enforcing social media ban on under-I6s

TECH FIRMS FACE FINES OF UP TO $32.9MN FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

- Agencies

Australia’s social media ban for youths took effect on Wednesday, a landmark move that's drawn global attention ata time governments are increasingly enacting rules to shield minors from toxic content and cyberbullying.

As part of the law passed last year, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, Tik-Tok, X, YouTube and Twitch face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.9 million) from Wednesday if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove the accounts of Australian children younger than 16,

How does it work?

Attempts by staff in Bloomberg News’ Melbourne newsroom to open a Facebook account on Wednesday morning using the date of birth of a middle-school student were blocked. “We couldn't create an account for you,” the site responded. “We were not able to sign you up for Facebook.”

However, no verification appeared required if a Facebook or Snapchat user inputs dates identifying them as 16 or older.

Similar attempts to create accounts by entering birth dates corresponding with users under the age of 16 were also unsuccessful on TikTok and Instagram.