Overview
- More than 200,000 TikTok accounts in Australia have already been deactivated, with authorities expecting hundreds of thousands more in the coming days.
- The law covers ten services — Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, Threads and X — which must take reasonable measures to block or remove under‑16 users.
- Messaging and other apps such as WhatsApp, Roblox, Discord, Pinterest and YouTube Kids are currently exempt, though the list can be revised.
- Platforms are rolling out age checks using AI age‑estimation, biometrics or ID verification, while offering options to download or archive content before deactivation.
- Two teenagers have filed a lawsuit challenging the ban on free‑expression grounds, as privacy and accuracy concerns persist over biometric screening and likely workarounds like VPNs or shared accounts.