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Major social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, and Snap, have confirmed they will comply with Australia’s new law banning users under 16 from accessing their platforms. The law, set to take effect on December 10, mandates companies to take “reasonable steps” to block users younger than 16 or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32.5 million).
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, along with TikTok owner ByteDance and Snapchat owner Snap, initially opposed the legislation, arguing it could harm youth mental health by driving minors toward less regulated online spaces. However, the firms have now agreed to follow the law while expressing continued concerns about its impact.
Mia Garlick, Meta’s policy director for Australia and New Zealand, said the company would contact around 450,000 account holders under 16 across Instagram and Facebook. These users will be given the option to delete their data or have it securely stored until they turn 16. TikTok and Snap will adopt similar measures, targeting roughly 200,000 and 440,000 underage accounts respectively.
All three companies will implement automated systems to identify underage users who falsely report their age. If an account shows behavior patterns inconsistent with the claimed age, it will be deactivated after December 10. Users mistakenly flagged as underage can appeal, with Meta and TikTok using third-party age-verification tools, while Snap continues to develop its solution.
Despite their objections, the platforms emphasized compliance. “We don’t agree, but we accept and will abide by the law,” said Snap’s global policy executive Jennifer Stout. TikTok’s Ella Woods-Joyce added, “We are on track to meet our compliance.”
The Australian law, one of the strictest globally, marks a significant shift in digital regulation aimed at protecting young users’ online safety while setting a precedent for similar measures worldwide.
