The law will take effect in November 2025, giving us some time to adapt, but it importantly applies retroactively. Additionally, starting January 1, the US state of Florida is implementing a similar social media restriction: users younger than 14 will be banned from social media, and those aged 14-15 will need parental permission. Utah, Georgia, and Louisiana have all enacted similar laws, and more jurisdictions are considering comparable measures.
These developments are becoming increasingly complex and will likely grow more so as more laws are introduced in other states and countries.
Why not tailor the age policy for each jurisdiction?
Attempting to create jurisdiction-specific policies isn’t practical. From a coding standpoint, it’s a significant challenge. From a moderation standpoint, it’s unmanageable.
Applying Australia’s rules universally isn’t a good solution either; their approach is quite strict. While blocking Australia entirely is an option, I’d rather not exclude our Australian members.
Our approach
Starting January 1, 2025, the new age restrictions for new accounts will be as follows:
- 13 and younger everywhere: Completely blocked from YWS.
- 14-15 outside Australia: Parental permission required.
- 16+ everywhere: No changes.
- Australian users only: 15 and younger blocked from YWS.
This balanced approach aligns with laws in several US States while accommodating Australian regulations without applying them globally. These changes will apply only to new accounts.
FAQs
How will YWS enforce this?
New users will provide their birthdate during registration. Depending on their age, they may be blocked or required to submit parental permission. After activating their account, users will have the option to change their birthdate once (to correct mistakes). If the updated birthdate falls under an age restriction, the account will be locked until permission is verified.
What should I do if I know someone is lying about their age?
If you become aware that someone is lying about their age, please report it immediately. This applies even if the age restriction wouldn’t impact them.
Does this law really impact YWS?
It’s unclear. Laws generally apply to sites operating within their jurisdiction. YWS is accessible to Australian users, but we have no servers, presence, or revenue in Australia. However, I’d prefer to err on the side of caution rather than test this.
Policy Updates and Privacy Measures
Laws are evolving, and this policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure compliance and fairness. I also plan to implement additional privacy-focused measures, such as restrictions on PMs and profile walls, though these updates will be rolled out separately.
If you have any questions, please let me know.