Australia's internet regulator has issued warnings to five major social media platforms for failing to adequately enforce the country's groundbreaking ban on users under 16, marking the first major compliance review since the law took effect in December.
The eSafety Commissioner identified significant gaps in how Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube are implementing age verification measures. The regulator found platforms were allowing children who had previously declared themselves under 16 to repeatedly attempt age verification, while failing to prevent new underage accounts from being created.
The compliance issues extend beyond technical failures. Platforms have not established effective reporting mechanisms for parents and others to flag underage users who maintain access to their services. Some companies offered children multiple opportunities to prove they were over 16 after initially declaring themselves younger.
While social media platforms have taken some initial action, I am concerned through our compliance monitoring that some may not be doing enough to comply with Australian law
Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner — BBC
The regulator reported that 4.7 million accounts were restricted or removed in the first month after the ban took effect on December 10. However, this figure represents only initial enforcement actions, with ongoing monitoring revealing persistent compliance challenges across the industry.
The BBC presents the story as a regulatory compliance issue, focusing on technical implementation challenges. Coverage emphasizes the international significance of Australia's pioneering approach to social media age restrictions.