Aussies to prove their age to access these online sites and services

Australians will have to prove their age to access pornographic websites, R-rated video games and explicit chatbots when landmark rules come into effect on Monday.

Under the new age-restricted material codes, search engines, social media platforms, websites, app stores, gaming providers and generative AI systems will need to prevent children from being exposed to age-inappropriate content online.

This includes any pornography, violent, self-harm, suicide and disordered eating content.

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Research by the eSafety Commission found that one in three children aged 10 to 17 has seen sexual images or videos online.

More than 70 per cent were found to have seen or heard violent content or self-harm material portraying suicide and disordered eating.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said children's emotional and psychological development and well-being are "at stake".

"We don't allow children to walk into bars or bottle shops, adult stores or casinos, but when it comes to online spaces where they are spending a lot of their time, there are no such safeguards," she said.

"Under these codes, if a young person searches the internet for suicide or self-harm content, the first result they see will be a helpline – not a harmful online rabbit hole.

"These obligations will help prevent exposure to potentially harmful content and direct at-risk children to real, lifesaving support."

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Adults will still be able to access legal adult content, but may have to provide proof of age to access services that allow explicit content.

Search engines like Google will have to blur explicit search results by default unless an adult is logged into their account.

Pornographic websites will also have to do more than ask a simple "are you 18 or older?" question.

If online providers fail to meaningfully introduce age-restrictive measures, they could be fined up to $49.5 million per breach.

The eSafety Commission will be monitoring providers to ensure they are following the new rules.

"Make no mistake, where we see failures or foot-dragging, we will hold companies to account," Grant said.

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