Elon Musk's X says barring under-16s in Australia 'not our choice'

AFP

AFP

10 December 2025 | 3:27

Formerly known as Twitter, X was the last of 10 restricted social media platforms to set out how it will implement Australia's ban.

Elon Musk's X says barring under-16s in Australia 'not our choice'

This combination of pictures created on October 10, 2023, shows (L) SpaceX, Twitter and electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk during his visit at the Vivatech technology startups and innovation fair at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, on 16 June 2023 and (R) the new Twitter logo rebranded as X, pictured on a screen in Paris on 24 July 2023. Picture: AFP

SYDNEY - Elon Musk's X said Wednesday it would comply with Australia's world-leading crackdown banning under-16s from social media.

"It's not our choice -- it's what the Australian law requires," the company said in a statement as the legislation came into effect.

Formerly known as Twitter, X was the last of 10 restricted social media platforms to set out how it will implement Australia's ban.

All platforms -- including Facebook, YouTube and TikTok -- have now agreed to take steps to remove young users.

They face US$33 million fines if they fail to take reasonable steps to purge Australia-based accounts belonging to users younger than 16.

The Australian government says unprecedented measures are needed to protect children from "predatory algorithms" filling phone screens with bullying, sex and violence.

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