Australia clarifies social media age verification rules for under-16 ban

Group 1 - Australia will not require social media platforms to verify the ages of all users under the new ban prohibiting access for children under 16, instead mandating reasonable steps to prevent underage access [1] - Social media companies have criticized the laws as vague and rushed, with Communications Minister Anika Wells stating that platforms must deactivate accounts belonging to underage users [2] - The guidelines suggest a multilayered approach to age checking rather than universal verification, with no single solution deemed perfect for enforcement [3] Group 2 - Social media companies could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars for violations of the new rules [3] - An independent study found that age verification can be conducted privately and effectively, while additional rules are being introduced to protect children from harmful online content [4] - Roblox Corporation has agreed to implement new safeguards against adult grooming of children in Australia [4]