Under Australia’s under-16 social media ban major platforms block 47 lakh accounts
Sydney: Major technology companies have blocked around 47 lakh accounts following Australia’s landmark ban on social media use by children under the age of 16, the country’s online safety regulator said on Friday.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said early data indicated that platforms were taking concrete steps to remove underage users since the law came into force on December 10 last year. She said regulatory guidance and engagement with companies had begun to show results, though a full assessment of compliance would take time.
Under the legislation, large platforms including Meta, TikTok and YouTube are required to prevent under-16s from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take what the law describes as reasonable steps to comply face penalties of up to Aus$ 49.5 million.
ALSO READ: Florida man rushes into traffic to rescue toddlers who wandered onto busy road
Reuters reported that Meta disclosed last week that it had removed hundreds of thousands of accounts across its services, including Instagram, Facebook and Threads, in the days following the introduction of the rules. The company, however, reiterated its position that app stores should be mandated to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before minors are allowed to download social media apps, arguing that this would prevent teenagers from shifting between platforms to evade restrictions.
The eSafety Commissioner acknowledged that accurate age verification remains complex but said platforms are expected to strengthen their systems and prevent circumvention. She noted that while it is too early to conclude whether companies are fully compliant, the initial response suggests progress in reducing potential harm and reshaping online norms.
Ahead of the ban’s implementation, downloads of smaller platforms such as BlueSky and Lemon8 increased, though both services have since acknowledged that they fall under the legislation and are cooperating with regulators. Inman Grant said the fast-changing digital landscape makes it impractical to name every service covered by the law, adding that enforcement efforts would focus on platforms with the largest Australian user bases.
She said some children may still find ways to remain online, but stressed that the measure’s success should be judged by its impact on safety and behaviour rather than complete elimination of underage use.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
2 killed, 5 injured in firing after mob storms CRPF camp in Manipur's Bishnupur: State home minister
Imphal (PTI): Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Tuesday said two persons were killed and five others injured in firing after a mob stormed a CRPF camp in Bishnupur district.
A large number of youths and women held a protest against the killing of two children in a bomb attack by suspected militants in Moirang Tronglaobi area earlier in the day, he said.
The protesters stormed the CRPF camp near Gelmol, a few 100 metres from the bomb attack site, burnt vehicles and vandalised properties there, he said.
"I had urged the protesters not to enter the CRPF camp and to allow security forces to focus on conducting an operation to apprehend those involved in the bomb attack," the minister said.
But the demonstrators did not pay heed to the appeal.
"They stormed the CRPF camp, burnt vehicles and vandalised portions of the camp, leading to firing by security personnel. They fired either in self-defence or in anger. Two persons, unfortunately, died in the firing, while five others sustained bullet injuries," the state home minister said.
