Australia warns social media giants over under-16 ban compliance

Australia’s internet regulator has raised concerns that major social media platforms are failing to fully comply with a law prohibiting users under 16 from accessing services such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

The legislation, effective December 2025, mandates strict age verification and measures to prevent underage accounts.

However, the eSafety Commission’s first compliance report highlighted gaps, including age verification bypasses, inadequate prevention of new under-16 accounts, and limited parental reporting options.

In the first month after the ban, about 4.7 million accounts were restricted or removed, according to eSafety.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned that the regulator will now actively enforce the rules and gather evidence to hold platforms accountable.

Meta said it is committed to compliance but cited challenges in verifying ages accurately, while Snap reported 4,50,000 accounts locked and continues daily enforcement.

Despite the ban, many under-16 users remain active online, often circumventing age checks.

Parents have largely welcomed the law, though critics argue that online education may be more effective and raise concerns about disproportionate impacts on minority youth. Some also say the law disproportionately affects minority groups, including rural, disabled, and LGBTQ+ youth, who often rely on online communities for support.

Inman Grant stressed that platforms can comply immediately and called on parents to act as partners in enforcement, underlining Australia’s commitment to cultural change around social media use.