Australia bans children under 16 from signing up for Instagram and TikTok

Australia is implementing one of the strictest social media usage restrictions in the world.

Children under 16 are prohibited from creating accounts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and similar services. According to Bloomberg, the law will come into effect in a year, placing the responsibility for violations on the shoulders of the social media companies, with fines of up to $32.4 million.

The bill does not specify how companies should verify users' ages.

According to a YouGov survey, over 77% of Australians support this initiative, while tech companies have predictably criticized the law for its lack of thought and implementation strategies.

Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, remarked last week that the new law appears to be a "dark way to control internet access for all Australians."