On Wednesday, Australia became the first country in the world to implement a social media ban for children under 16. Platforms are racing to deactivate existing accounts and block new sign-ups, while questions linger over enforcement, account handling, and appeals for mistakenly flagged users. Non-compliance could cost companies up to $50 million. Here’s what you need to know.
Starting Wednesday, December 10, platforms affected by the Australian government's ban must deactivate accounts for users under 16 and prohibit them from creating accounts until they reach 16. The eSafety commissioner must confirm that the platforms have taken 'reasonable steps' to block under-16s from having accounts, or they could incur a fine of up to $49.5 million.
TikTok
Snapchat
X (Twitter)
YouTube
Twitch
Kick
Threads
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick were included in the initial ban, with Threads covered through Instagram. The government said that the list is dynamic, meaning apps like Lemon8 could be added if children move to them after the ban.
Roblox
YouTube Kids
Discord
Lemon8
GitHub
LEGO Play
Steam and Steam Chat
Google Classroom
Messenger
Platforms like Roblox, YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, LinkedIn and Pinterest are exempt from the ban. The government has left room for more platforms to be included, but eSafety says it’s largely up to services to assess their own risk. Bluesky, for example, was deemed “very low risk” due to minimal youth use.
Age verification under Australia’s new under-16 social media ban will vary widely across platforms, with the government requiring that ID checks cannot be the only method. Instead, companies must adopt layered approaches.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has declined to reveal its exact method, arguing that disclosing it could help teens find ways around the ban.
Snapchat plans to use behavioural signals and the birth date on user accounts to identify those likely under 16.
TikTok says it will rely on a multi-layered system combining technology and human moderation to spot teens who entered incorrect birth dates.
Kick will use the same K-ID verification technology as Snapchat for age assurance.
YouTube will determine a user’s age based on their linked Google account and other internal signals, and says it is continuing to explore stronger age-assurance tools.
For under-16 users, major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube are allowing account holders to download or archive their content before deactivation. Accounts can be placed on hold or “frozen” until users turn 16, giving them the option to reactivate or delete their accounts entirely.
For example, Snapchat’s freeze will affect around 440,000 teens in Australia, while YouTube ensures no content is lost when access is restored. Other platforms have yet to provide details on how they will manage teen accounts under the new regulations.
The government has stated that the ban may not be flawless from the outset, and they will not immediately penalize platforms for non-compliance. Julie Inman Grant, the country’s eSafety Commissioner menntioned during December estimates, "We do not expect all accounts under 16 to vanish instantly on December 10th."
