Elon Musk’s platform X has confirmed it will comply with Australia’s groundbreaking legislation that bans anyone under 16 from accessing social media. The announcement came as the new law officially took effect, marking one of the most aggressive moves by any country to protect minors online.
In a brief statement, X said the decision was not driven by preference but by obligation, noting, “It’s not our choice—it’s what the Australian law requires.” X, formerly known as Twitter, was the last among 10 major platforms to outline how it intends to enforce the new rules.
With this compliance, all major platforms used by Australian youth—Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and others—have now agreed to implement systems to detect and remove underage users. Those who fail to take “reasonable steps” face penalties of up to US$33 million.
The Australian government has defended the sweeping crackdown as essential to shield children from what it calls “predatory algorithms” and harmful content, including bullying, sexual material and violence. The ban marks a global first, positioning Australia at the forefront of digital child safety.
