Nations around the globe are looking to Australia's world-leading ban on children using social media, as age verification trials are underway to test how it might be enforced.
Platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from creating accounts, and face $50 million fines for systemic breaches of the new rules.
Foreign governments have been monitoring Australia's face off with tech giants TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, Meta and X (formerly Twitter), speculating how such a ban could be implemented in their own countries.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland gave an interview to Swiss publication Blick, spruiking the reform aimed at protecting young people.
Social media companies have criticised the laws as "rushed" and difficult to enforce, going so far as to warn of unintended consequences on free speech.
Human rights groups have said an outright ban wasn't a proportionate response, and impinged on the rights of children, despite requirements to take action to secure their wellbeing.
Asked if the federal government should have waited for the age assurance trial to finish, expected in mid-2025, before legislating, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected it had been rushed.
"This has been an issue that has (been) raised with me more, or at least as much as any other issue by people when I'm out and about," he told reporters on Friday.
"We'll work to make sure that it's got right.
"We don't argue that its implementation will be perfect ... but we know that it's the right thing to do."
The legislation cleared the parliament on Friday morning, after it passed the upper house on Thursday.
The laws, which will come into effect from late 2025, will capture platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).
But exemptions will apply for health and education services including YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom.
