Sydney: X, formerly known as Twitter, announced on Wednesday that it will comply with a new, groundbreaking Australian law that bans social media use for children under the age of 16. The company emphasised that this decision is not voluntary but mandated by the Australian government’s legislation, which took effect immediately.

"It's not our choice -- it's what the Australian law requires," the company stated.

X was the last among ten major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, to confirm its compliance with the regulation.

The law requires social media companies to remove accounts belonging to Australians under 16 years old to protect young users from harmful online content and interactions. Platforms failing to take “reasonable steps” to ensure compliance could face hefty penalties of up to US$33 million. This decisive action comes amidst growing concerns worldwide about the impact of social media on children’s mental health and well-being.

According to the Australian government, the ban aims to safeguard children from exposure to “predatory algorithms” that aggressively promote harmful content, including bullying, sexual material, and violent imagery. Lawmakers argue that these algorithms, designed to maximise screen time and engagement, often target younger users unintentionally or otherwise, placing them at risk of emotional and psychological harm.

In response, social media companies have begun implementing robust age verification systems and account removal procedures to align with the law. For X, this move signals a broader shift in industry practices toward prioritising user safety and age-appropriate content, though it also presents technical and ethical challenges in accurately verifying users' ages without invading privacy.

Australia’s stance has sparked global debate over regulating social media use among minors, with some viewing the law as a necessary protective step, while others warn of potential overreach and impacts on digital rights.

With inputs from AFP