Meta, TikTok and Snap will comply with Australia’s under-16 social media ban from Dec 10 despite warning of enforcement challenges and age-verification limits.
Australia’s Bold Step to Protect Children from Social Media Risks
Major social platforms have agreed to comply with Australia’s new law that will bar users under 16 from major social networks, a move that sets a global precedent for child-safety regulation. Meta (Facebook/Instagram), TikTok and Snap told Australian authorities they will obey the law when it comes into force on 10 December, even as they warned the rule will be hard to police in practice.
Parliament approved the measure this month; companies face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million for non-compliance (roughly US$32.5 million), and regulators have been clear that firms must take “reasonable steps” to identify and deactivate under-16 accounts rather than guarantee age verification of every user. The heavy fines and tight deadline have prompted a scramble inside platforms to design workable age-assurance systems.
Platform executives spelled out the practical and technical obstacles during hearings and statements. Meta’s policy director, Mia Garlick, flagged significant engineering and age-assurance challenges in identifying and removing hundreds of thousands of underage users by the December deadline.
