In a groundbreaking move that’s already making global headlines, Australia is set to become the first country to ban users under 16 from all major social media platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and possibly even WhatsApp and Roblox.
Starting December 10, companies that fail to remove underage users will face massive fines of up to $32 million, as part of what experts are calling one of the world’s strictest online safety laws.
However, enforcing the ban is proving to be a challenge even for the world’s biggest tech players.
TikTok’s Australia Policy Lead, Ella Woods-Joyce, told a Senate hearing that while the company would comply, the law could have “unintended consequences.” She warned that blocking younger users might push them toward unregulated corners of the internet, where fewer protections exist.
Meanwhile, Meta’s Policy Director, Mia Garlick, confirmed that Facebook and Instagram would remove hundreds of thousands of underage accounts before the deadline. But she admitted that age detection remains a major technical hurdle, with engineers racing to refine systems that can distinguish teenagers from adults.
Under the new legislation, companies are not required to verify every user’s age, but must take “reasonable steps” to detect and remove users under 16. Critics argue the law is vague, rushed, and nearly impossible to enforce at scale.
Even YouTube has voiced concern. Its spokesperson, Rachel Lord, said the policy, though well-intentioned, might not achieve its goal of keeping children safe online, as young users could migrate to riskier, unmoderated platforms.
Australia’s online safety regulator is still reviewing whether the law will extend to gaming platforms like Roblox and Twitch, leaving major questions about scope and enforcement unanswered — just six weeks before the rules kick in.
As global tech companies scramble to adapt, the world watches closely:
Can Australia really pull off the impossible — keeping kids off social media?
In other news also read about Instagram Launches Teen Accounts in Pakistan With Safety Restrictions
