EXPLAINER | Why gatekeeping in social media isn’t easy

Australia has become the first country to restrict social media access for children under 16. Jatin Grover looks at how the new law plans to enforce the ban, whether such gatekeeping is realistic and the comparable laws in India

What does the new law say?

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 by Australia puts the onus on social media companies to prevent children below the age of 16 from accessing their platforms. The ban, to be implemented after one year, will make social media platforms such as X, Instagram, Snapchat,