Overview
- The law took effect on Dec 10 for 10 named services including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, Threads, Kick, Facebook and X, with X the last to outline compliance.
- Implementation was uneven on day one, with The Guardian finding Twitch, Reddit and YouTube still allowing registrations for 14‑year‑olds as companies deploy AI age estimation, video selfies or government‑ID checks.
- Hundreds of thousands of teens were logged out or had accounts deactivated, prompting farewell posts and data‑download prompts, as platforms face a requirement to take “reasonable steps” to block under‑16s.
- Workarounds surged, with alternative apps such as Lemon8 and Yope climbing app‑store charts and VPN demand jumping 103% versus the prior 28‑day average, according to Top10VPN data cited by Bloomberg/Straits Times.
- eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant defended the policy as a model even as U.S. lawmakers sought her testimony and U.K. officials signaled no plans to copy the ban, while rights groups flagged privacy and effectiveness concerns and legal challenges were signaled.