SYDNEY, Australia – Major tech corporations, including TikTok, have voiced strong opposition to a pioneering Australian law that prohibits children under the age of 16 from engaging with social media platforms. Enacted on Thursday, the new regulation imposes hefty fines of up to A$49 million (US$32 million) on social media companies failing to enforce age restrictions.
TikTok, among other platforms, has expressed concerns that this ban might not only be ineffective but could also drive minors to seek out less regulated and potentially more dangerous areas of the internet. “This law, while well-intentioned, carries the unintended risk of pushing children into the less controlled corners of the online world,” a TikTok spokesperson stated.
The legislation was part of a last-minute rush in Parliament, with lawmakers passing a total of 31 bills in a frenzied session marking the end of the legislative year. The debate around this particular bill has been intense, with proponents arguing it’s necessary to protect young Australians from the negative impacts of social media, while critics, including social media giants, argue that such measures could infringe on digital rights and fail to address the root issues of online safety.
As the law takes effect, the tech industry is bracing for how it will adapt to meet these new compliance requirements, with many wondering about the practical enforcement of age verification and the implications for user privacy and freedom of expression online.
