Big Tech Defies Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban

Australia has accused global technology giants, including Meta, TikTok, and Google, of failing to enforce a significant ban restricting under-16s from using social media platforms. A recent survey indicated that nearly 70% of children under 16 who previously had accounts on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok have maintained their access despite the new laws implemented last December.

The Australian government's eSafety Commission has launched investigations into platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for potential non-compliance. Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that the age estimation technology used by these companies is insufficient and that lax security measures allow children to repeatedly attempt age verification until successful.

Meta has stated its commitment to complying with the ban but highlighted the inherent challenges in accurately verifying ages online, suggesting that app store and operating system level verification is a more effective approach. Other companies like TikTok and Google had not responded by publication. The laws carry a maximum penalty of A$49.5 million for non-compliance.

The eSafety Commission's report found that a substantial proportion of children under 16 still possess accounts, with a common reason being that platforms had not yet requested age verification. The report also raised concerns about "poor practices" by some platforms, including encouraging repeated age verification attempts and having unclear reporting mechanisms for underage users.