Australia is broadening its world-first ban on social media for children under 16, a measure that already included major platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. In a recent move, the head of the country’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has now sent letters to 16 additional companies, asking them to “self-assess” whether they fall under the scope of the ban.
The new list includes platforms such as Pinterest, Lego Play, the streaming service Kick, and the gaming platform Steam. According to the national broadcaster ABC, these companies will have the opportunity to argue for an exemption if they believe their platform should not be included. Inman Grant told the network that while some cases are “pretty clear,” the regulator would “give them the due diligence process” and “hear them all out.”
The eSafety Commission has the authority to fine non-compliant social media companies up to Aus$49.5 million ($32.6 million). However, the implementation of the law has raised concerns among experts who worry that the legislation is unenforceable and merely a symbolic gesture due to a lack of specific details on enforcement. Social media companies have also criticized the laws, labeling them “vague,” “problematic,” and “rushed.”
A significant challenge for the government has been defining how platforms will verify the ages of their users. This month, Communications Minister Anika Wells acknowledged that the responsibility for self-regulation would largely fall on the companies themselves. However, an independent study commissioned by the Australian government found that age checking can be done “privately, efficiently and effectively,” though it concluded that no single solution would be suitable for all situations.
In addition to the ban, the regulator is introducing new rules in the coming months aimed at protecting children from “lawful but awful” content, including online pornography and AI chatbots capable of sexually explicit conversations. In a separate development this month, Roblox has also agreed to implement measures to curb the risk of adult users grooming children on its platform in Australia.
