US EditionMeta, TikTok Agree To Obey Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban
Meta, TikTok, and Snap will deactivate over 1.5 million under-16 accounts from December 10, facing up to Aus$49.5 million fines for non-compliance amid enforcement challenges.
- From December 10, Australia will force social media platforms to remove users under the age of 16, banning accounts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, X and YouTube.
- After August's approval, officials said the government says the ban aims to protect young people's health by reducing harmful content and pressures, following 42 days of consultation with young people and industry.
- Companies plan to use AI age estimation, facial analysis, ID checks, and behaviour monitoring to detect and deactivate underage accounts, with data-download tools offered, Snap's Jennifer Park Stout said, "We don't agree, but we accept and we will abide by the law."
- The policy will deactivate about 1.5 million accounts and companies risk fines up to Aus$49.5 million, while teen entrepreneurs and musicians warn it will limit opportunities.
- Industry pushback noted that tech companies described the law as 'vague', 'problematic' and 'rushed', the government plans a two-year review, and other countries could consider similar measures.
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Analysis:Big tech stops complaining, starts complying with Australia's teen social media ban
SYDNEY :Online platforms will ping Australian teenagers through over a million accounts in coming days offering a choice: download data, freeze profiles or lose the lot when a world-first ban on kids using social media starts on December 10.TikTok, Snapchat and Meta's Facebook, Instagram and Threads are poise
The Federal Council wants to regulate communication platforms – but only the very large ones.
Social Media Giants Warn Ban Will Drive Under 16s to ‘Darker Corners’ of Internet
Australia’s major social media platforms have agreed to enforce the federal government’s ban on children under 16 using their apps, but warn the move could drive teens toward unsafe corners of the internet and weaken public confidence in the rules. From Dec. 10, platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube must remove accounts belonging to users under 16. Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to $50 million. Ex…
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