X Will Comply With Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban
X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, has said it will follow Australia’s new law that bans social media accounts for anyone under 16. The company stated that compliance is required under Australian law and it will adjust its systems to meet the new rules.
Age checks to be introduced
Under the ban, platforms must enforce age restrictions and verify that users are at least 16. X said it will use age-assurance measures, which may include identity checks or user confirmation. Accounts that do not meet the threshold will be blocked or removed.
Law comes into effect
The ban is part of a new national safety law that aims to reduce online harm for children. The rule applies to major platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and YouTube. Penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to A$49.5 million.
Industry preparing for impact
All major platforms have now agreed to follow the law, making Australia the first country to impose a blanket age limit for social media use. Companies are preparing technical changes to their systems, while critics say it may push younger users to smaller platforms with fewer safeguards.
