Australia is already the first country to ban social media use for children under 16. And now, it is considering expanding its youth protection rules to target other parts of the internet, including app stores, search engines, and AI services. The country’s internet regulator has said that it could press big digital gatekeepers to block access to services that don’t implement robust age verification systems.
What Australia is proposing
In an interview with Reuters, officials from Australia’s eSafety watchdog said they may extend age-gating to app stores and search engines that make it easy for minors to access AI tools and other online services without verifying age. One of the immediate focuses is on AI chat services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. These platforms can display content like graphic material, self-harm information, and other areas regulators see as potentially harmful to internet users under 18 years of age.
Under their new proposal, age checks would need to be implemented by March 9, or the companies risk facing fines up to A$49.5 million (~US$35 million). Australia’s push highlights a broader trend of age-targeted regulation that began with social media and is now spreading to other areas in the digital ecosystem. Apple has seemingly backed this up already, with age checks before allowing users to download certain apps in regions like Brazil, Australia, and Singapore.
A global wave of age restrictions
In a broader context, governments from across the globe have also been considering similar rules to limit minors’ access to social media and online services:
- France and Spain are moving towards age limits on social media, with minimum ages and verification requirements.
- In the UK, social media being banned for youth under 16 is also being explored.
- New Zealand has proposed similar age restriction laws against social media for minors under 16.
The bottom line
The focus on online safety for the youth has clearly moved beyond just social media platforms, with Australia eyeing age checks even at the point of access (app stores, search engines, and AI tools). While regulators are widening the digital safety policy net, it remains to be seen how countries balance online protection with privacy, access, and civil liberties for young internet users worldwide.