Overview
- Major networks including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit and X began removing or blocking presumed under‑16 accounts as the rules took effect, with messaging and gaming services such as WhatsApp and Roblox excluded.
- Platforms may use IDs, bank checks, or facial and behavioral age estimation to screen users, prompting concerns over privacy, data security and false positives.
- A High Court case brought by the Digital Freedom Project with two 15‑year‑old plaintiffs is pending, and Reddit has signaled a court fight as X offers limited public clarity on its approach.
- Early accounts describe teens bypassing controls with VPNs, fake IDs or manipulated images, and reports of inconsistent facial‑age results point to enforcement challenges.
- Other governments are assessing similar steps — from Denmark’s planned 15+ limit to EU calls for a 16+ standard — as researchers frame Australia’s rollout as a rare natural experiment.