Australia Enforces First-of-Its-Kind 16+ Social Media Age Law

Overview

• The law took effect at local midnight and covers major services including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Twitch, Threads and Kick.
• Google said it will automatically disconnect under‑16 YouTube users, and Meta began deactivating suspected underage accounts with an appeal path using Yoti’s document or video‑selfie checks.
• The eSafety Commissioner has begun a six‑month schedule of monthly notices requiring data on deleted accounts, with repeat breaches exposing platforms to maximum penalties.
• The Digital Freedom Project and teen plaintiffs Macy Newland and Noah Jones have filed constitutional challenges in the Supreme Court of Australia, with hearings yet to be scheduled.
• Compliance relies on AI age‑estimation and third‑party verification services such as Yoti and k‑ID, and an ABC survey suggests 75% of teens intend to try to circumvent the ban.