access restricted, age approval
"Authority warning access restricted age approval" refers to Australia's new Online Safety laws (Online Safety Act 2021 & Amendment Act 2024) requiring social media platforms to prevent under-16s from having accounts by December 2025, using age verification to block restricted material (like pornography) and ensure platforms take "reasonable steps" to protect kids, enforced by the eSafety Commissioner, involving industry codes, age assurance, and potential penalties for non-compliance. What it means for users: Age Restrictions: Platforms must block users under 16 from creating accounts, a significant change coming in December 2025. Restricted Content: Systems must prevent minors (under 18) from accessing high-impact material like pornography, suicide content, or self-harm material. Age Assurance: Platforms will use age verification (like ID checks or third-party tools) to confirm users' ages. Who is responsible? eSafety Commissioner: Oversees the rules, develops guidelines, and can direct services to remove content or implement age restrictions. Online Platforms: Social media, search engines, app stores, and hosting services must comply with enforceable industry codes. Key Legislation: Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth): The primary law for online safety. Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024: Introduced the under-16 social media rule. In simple terms: The government is making online platforms responsible for verifying ages and keeping young children away from harmful content, with a major push for social media age restrictions by the end of 2025.