Australia has officially activated a groundbreaking new law that bans anyone under the age of 16 from accessing social media, marking one of the most aggressive child-protection measures globally. Today, Elon Musk’s X confirmed it will comply—making it the final platform among 10 major networks required to fall in line with the new mandate.
In a public statement, X said, “It’s not our choice—it’s what the Australian law requires.”
The company emphasized that it must operate within the boundaries set by the country’s updated online safety regulations.
X—formerly known as Twitter—was the last of the restricted platforms to outline how it intends to enforce the ban. Major players including Facebook, YouTube and TikTok have all agreed to implement verification measures aimed at removing under-16 users from their Australian user base.
Under the law, platforms face penalties of up to US$33 million if they fail to take what the government defines as “reasonable steps” to identify and purge accounts belonging to users younger than 16.
According to Australian officials, these tough measures are driven by a growing concern over how predatory algorithms expose children to harmful online content such as bullying, sexual material and violence. Authorities argue that unprecedented action is needed to protect young people from being targeted and manipulated by digital platforms.
In a world where the online space is becoming increasingly influential in shaping young minds, this legislation forces a moment of reflection for all of us—parents, creators, platforms and communities. Our digital future depends on how we protect those who are not yet ready to navigate it alone.
