Digital Platforms Will Comply With Australian Rules, Regarding Limiting The Age Of Playing Social Media

JAKARTA - Meta and other social media platform companies have agreed to start disabling children's social media accounts under 16 years of age, according to applicable laws in Australia.

Although digital platforms still believe the ban will not protect young people, they will comply with the regulations that will take effect on December 10.

They also said they would immediately contact all underage account owners to prepare them for the changes.

"We don't agree, but we accept and will comply with the law," Jennifer Stout, senior vice president of global policy and platform operations Snap, said via video link citing Reuters.

Meanwhile, Meta policy director for Australia and New Zealand, Mia Garlick said the company would soon contact some 450,000 underage account holders on Instagram and Facebook.

They will give users under the option of deleting photos and other data or offering to save them until they are 16 years old.

Meanwhile, TikTok's public policy leader for Australia, Ella Woods-Joyce reiterated the rejection of the China-owned platform against the ban but said, "TikTok will comply with the law and fulfill its obligations."

For information, laws passed in November 2024 require social media platforms to take reasonable measures to prevent children under 16 from using their services.

If they fail to comply, the company could be fined up to USD 49.5 million (approximately IDR 526 billion).