Australia warns social media platforms of ‘major gaps’ in enforcing under-16 ban E-safety commission investigating ‘potential non-compliance’ by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube The Independent UK · Mar 31
Australia adds age checks for AI chatbots, adult games and search engines Australia called it a “common sense” measure that extends real-life protections for children into the digital realm. Euronews · Mar 9
Aussies Blocked From Pornhub As Govt.’s New Age-Restriction Laws Come Into Effect Of course VPN downloads are already skyrocketing. Who could have predicted this etc. Pedestrian.tv · Mar 9
Australia expands age verification checks from social media to porn and explicit video games New mandate could impact children’s online privacy, experts say The Independent UK · Mar 9
Porn age checks 'won't stop' teens from seeking content Australians are being blocked from accessing porn websites as strict age verification controls come into effect, while VPNs apps have surged in popularity. AAP · Mar 9
Social media ban study to track thousands of families The internet watchdog has launched a study into 4000 Australian families to determine the impact and effectiveness of the world-first social media ban. AAP · Feb 26
After its teen social media ban, Australia is swooping on Roblox following 'ongoing concerns about online child grooming' It could face fines of up to AU$49.5 million. PC Gamer · Feb 9
Grooming claims spark Roblox kid-friendly rating review The communications minister has requested an urgent meeting with controversial gaming host Roblox, while her opponent has labelled her too slow to act. AAP · Feb 9
Australian social media ban both a success and failure Australian laws banning children from social media have the world talking but two months in, experts say they are far from foolproof. AAP · Feb 7
Tech behemoths lashed over child abuse protections Technology giants are not doing enough to tackle the worst examples of child sexual abuse material online, according to Australia's online safety boss. AAP · Feb 5
Social media app investigated over child abuse material Australian officials are looking into the creation of child abuse material on Elon Musk's social media platform amid global outcry over the issue. AAP · Jan 16
Australia under-16 social media ban: How is it going one month since law took effect? Australia has revealed that almost 5 million teen accounts have been deleted by social media platforms. Euronews · Jan 15
Reddit Takes Australian Government to Court Over Social Media Ban on Teens Under 16 California-based website Reddit filed a lawsuit against the Australian government for their law that bans teenagers under 16 years old to access social media platforms. International Business Times UK · Dec 13, 2025
Australia's Social Media Ban Update: Sites Included, Exceptions, and How Kids Are Bypassing Age-Verification Systems Revealed Australia restricts under-16s from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X, while kids find creative ways to bypass age verification systems. International Business Times UK · Dec 11, 2025
The Guardian - AU · Dec 9, 2025 Doxing, death threats and the ire of Elon Musk: who is the Australian woman taking on the social media giants? Overseeing the world’s first social media ban has been bruising for Julie Inman Grant, but she says ‘there’s no playbook for this’
Benzinga · Dec 5, 2025 Australia Says Its Teen Social Media Is The 'First Domino' In Global Effort To Reign In Tech Giants As Meta Blocks Instagram, Facebook Accounts Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) has started deactivating Instagram, Facebook and Threads accounts belonging to Australian users under 16, signaling what eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant calls the "first domino" in a global push to regulate Big Tech.
Fortune · Dec 4, 2025 Australia wants to end the era of kids on social media with international ban hailed as ‘first domino’ in global movement If Meta, Google, and others can’t figure out how to block accounts of users under 16 years old, they’ll be fined $33 million per breach.
The Guardian - AU · Dec 2, 2025 Australia’s eSafety commissioner rejects US Republican’s assertion she is a ‘zealot for global takedowns’ Julie Inman Grant says Australia’s Online Safety Act ‘does not impinge upon Americans’ freedom of speech’
The Guardian - AU · Dec 2, 2025 Gallagher says public service ‘roughly the right size’ – as it happened Follow live
AAP · Dec 1, 2025 Teens waiting for guidance on imminent social media ban YouTube, Reddit, Kick and X are yet to reveal compliance measures with Australia's social media ban, with kids expected to experience withdrawal symptoms.
AAP · Dec 1, 2025 Smart cars being weaponised in domestic violence cases Frontline services are witnessing an increase in technology-facilitated abuse, including victims being monitored in smart cars and cameras in cat feeders.
AAP · Nov 26, 2025 'Nudifying' AI deepfake tools used by students blocked Access to three of the world's most widely used "nudifying" deepfake services has been blocked after they were linked to child sex abuse material in students.
The Conversation · Nov 22, 2025 What does the US Congress want with Australia’s eSafety commissioner? In the lead-up to the much-discussed social media ban taking effect, Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is often in the headlines.
AAP · Nov 18, 2025 Roblox reforms over 'playground for pedophiles' concern Australian authorities demanded changes from a major US gaming platform over concerns it was being used to groom and exploit children.
International Business Times · Nov 5, 2025 World's Strictest Social Media Law: 9 Platforms Must Block Everyone Under 16 or Pay $33M Australia expanded its world-first under-16 social media ban to include Reddit and Kick, effective December 10. Nine platforms—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Threads, Reddit, and Kick—face AU$49.5M fines for non-compliance. WhatsApp and gaming platforms are exempt.