Sydney: Major social media platforms, including Meta, ByteDance, and Snap, have confirmed that they will comply with Australia’s new law banning users under the age of 16.
The law, which takes effect on December 10, will require companies to take ‘reasonable steps’ to block underage users or risk fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32.5 million).
The announcement marks a significant shift in the industry’s response to the legislation, which is being closely watched by governments worldwide amid rising concerns about youth mental health. Previously, these companies argued that such a ban would push minors toward unsafe online spaces and isolate them from essential social connections, while also being overly complex to implement.
During a parliamentary session, representatives from Meta (Instagram and Facebook), TikTok (owned by ByteDance), and Snap (owner of Snapchat) said that although they continue to believe the measure will not effectively protect young people, they will adhere to it. Collectively, the firms plan to contact over one million underage account holders in Australia to prepare them for account removal or deactivation.
“We don’t agree, but we accept and we will abide by the law,” said Jennifer Stout, Snap’s Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Platform Operations, during a video testimony.
Ella Woods-Joyce, TikTok’s Public Policy Lead for Australia, reaffirmed the company’s position and stated that, “TikTok will comply with the law and meet its obligations. We are on track to meet our compliance.”
Mia Garlick, Meta’s Policy Director for Australia and New Zealand, said the company would soon contact holders of accounts confirmed to be under 16, around 450,000 across Instagram and Facebook, to offer them two options: delete their photos and other data or have Meta store them securely until they turn 16.
TikTok reported having around 200,000 accounts belonging to under-16 users in Australia, while Snap disclosed around 440,000 such accounts. Both companies said they would take similar steps, including using automated behaviour-tracking software to identify users who may be underage, even if their profiles list an older age.
“Where we identify someone that is saying they’re 25 but the behaviours would indicate that they’re below the age of 16, from December 10th, we will have those accounts deactivated,” Woods-Joyce said.
For users who are incorrectly flagged as underage, Meta and TikTok stated that they will refer them to a third-party age-estimation tool for verification. Snap, meanwhile, said it is still developing a solution to handle such cases.
The company’s updated stance follows months of debate over the law’s implications. Critics argue that it could create challenges for verifying users’ ages and potentially impact young Australians’ access to online communities.
Nonetheless, the social media platforms now appear to be aligning with government requirements, underscoring a global shift toward stricter regulation of online safety and youth protection.
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