As global concern grows around children’s online safety, governments are taking stronger action to regulate social media access for minors. Australia is the latest country to implement firm age restrictions, requiring major platforms to remove underage accounts and report compliance activity or face significant penalties. This move signals a broader international shift toward tighter digital protections and increased accountability for social media providers.
Australia is set to enforce its age limit for social media accounts starting next week, and the platforms must provide monthly reports on how many children’s accounts they have closed or face fines
Google said Wednesday that anyone in Australia under 16 would be signed out of its platform YouTube from Dec. 10 and lose features accessible only to account holders such as playlists.
Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube would face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) from Dec. 10 if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove accounts of Australian children younger than 16. Livestreaming service Twitch was added to the list of age-restricted platforms less than two weeks ago.
Last month, the Malaysian government said it would ban social media accounts for children younger than 16 from 2026.
Wells said the European Commission, France, Denmark, Greece, Romania and New Zealand were also interesting in setting a minimum age for social media.
Growing efforts to enhance youth online safety are reshaping the responsibilities of social media platforms, and the organizations that rely on them. Ensuring compliance with emerging standards not only supports legal and ethical responsibilities but also promotes a safer digital environment for young people. HR leaders can play a key role by monitoring developments, reviewing social media guidelines, and fostering responsible use of online platforms across their teams.
Questions? Contact us today 913.322.5999 or by click here.
