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Australia Expands Social Media Ban for Under-16 Users

11/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Australia adds Reddit and Kick to its social media ban for users under-16, effective December 10.
The law requires platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to deactivate accounts for under-16 users.
Fines for noncompliance can reach up to A$50 million.
Critics raise data privacy concerns and questions about age-verification effectiveness, and some academics oppose the age limit as an ineffective online-risk solution, with international scrutiny.

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Story summary

Australia adds Reddit and Kick to its social media ban for users under-16, effective December 10.
The law requires platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to deactivate accounts for under-16 users.
Fines for noncompliance can reach up to A$50 million.
Critics raise data privacy concerns and questions about age-verification effectiveness, and some academics oppose the age limit as an ineffective online-risk solution, with international scrutiny.