Under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, introduced in Australia in December 2025, social media platforms are now required to take steps to prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing their services.
In our latest episode of Bad News, Good Lawyers, Tanvi Mehta Krensel, who leads our Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Digital Assets Practice in Australia, joins host Tom Firestone, head of our Government Investigations & White Collar Practice, to discuss this controversial new social media ban. They engage in an insightful conversation on who and what the minimum age rules prohibit, whether the law works in practice and what changes are expected in the future, particularly as the UK and the EU consider implementing similar legislation.
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*The views expressed by guests on Bad News, Good Lawyers are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of Squire Patton Boggs.
Key questions addressed in this episode
What was the impetus behind the act?
What exactly does the act prohibit?
What are the penalties for violations?
Are there any enforcement actions yet?
Is the act actually preventing minors from accessing social media?
What amendments can be expected in the future?
If you have any questions about our podcast, please contact Tom Firestone. And look out for future episodes in this series, where we discuss the intersection of law and politics, and how good lawyers can develop creative solutions to the toughest issues.