Australian social media regulation finally pivots to implementation

This report analyses the passage of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which establishes a world-first legislated age limit of 16 for social media use in Australia. While the principle has bipartisan support, the focus now shifts to a complex 12-month implementation phase. The legislation introduces significant financial penalties for corporate bodies, reaching up to $49.5 million, and relies on an ongoing age assurance trial to define the technical standards for 'reasonable steps' in age verification.