Social media firms have come to ban ‘kicking and screaming’, says Australia eSafety boss
JAN 23 - Social media platforms do not want Australia's landmark social media ban to be successful in case it incentivises other countries to follow suit, Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
Social media companies are reluctantly complying with Australia's landmark ban preventing users under 16 from having accounts, fearing it could set a global precedent, according to eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. The policy, implemented in December, has already resulted in the shutdown of 4.7 million child accounts.
- Australia is the first jurisdiction to ban social media for under-16s without parental approval exemptions, making its laws the world's strictest.
- eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant claims social media platforms view children as an "incredibly lucrative" market and are resisting regulation.
- Companies face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million, £24.5 million) for non-compliance, with Snapchat being a key focus for further notices.
Continue Reading
Read the complete article from Capital Business
Part of the Day's Coverage
TikTok Finalizes US Deal as Australia Bans Under-16 Social Media Users - January 2026
TikTok has finalized a deal to separate its US operations from its global business, which concludes a multi-year dispute between Washington and Beijing over national security concerns. This deal allows the popular app to continue operating in the United States, securing its future for its 200 million American users as a new entity takes over operations. In separate regulatory action, social media companies are complying with Australia's landmark ban preventing users under 16 from having accounts. According to Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, the policy was implemented in December. The move has already resulted in the shutdown of 4.7 million child accounts.
