The new law targets apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Twitch, and Kick, requiring them to block underage users with tools like age estimation—no ID needed upfront.
Fines up to $49.5 million await non-compliant platforms, while exemptions apply to WhatsApp, Discord, Roblox, and YouTube Kids.
Supporters like Albanese and Oprah Winfrey call it a vital shield for childhood, with one mother relieved it ends account battles for her nine-year-old; critics worry about workarounds like VPNs and privacy risks from age checks.
