"Australia became the first country to formally block under-16s from major social platforms on Wednesday, forcing YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and X to restrict millions of accounts overnight, according to reporting from CNBC and Reuters. Platforms must now deploy age-verification tools - everything from selfie-based age estimation to ID uploads - or face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars."
"The rollout hit at midnight. By Wednesday morning, TikTok alone had deactivated about 200,000 accounts, with "hundreds of thousands" more expected to follow, Reuters reported. But the rest of the world isn't just watching. It's taking notes. Lawmakers from Europe to Asia have been circling their own teen-access bills, and many are treating Australia like a live beta test for whether such bans are actually enforceable. Denmark, Norway, France, Spain, Malaysia, and New Zealand all have early proposals in motion, CNBC reported."
Australia blocked social media access for users under 16, requiring platforms to verify ages or face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars. Major platforms restricted millions of accounts overnight and deactivated hundreds of thousands of accounts on launch day. Platforms must deploy age-verification tools, ranging from selfie-based estimation to ID uploads. Teens have already found loopholes to bypass restrictions, raising enforcement concerns. Lawmakers across Europe and Asia are pursuing similar bills and treating Australia as a test case. Supporters describe the move as a cultural reset while opponents warn of surveillance and enforcement challenges.
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