Overview
- Meta has begun deactivating under-16 accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads, with at least 500,000 removals anticipated ahead of the December 10 start date.
- The eSafety Commissioner will mandate monthly disclosures of underage account removals, and Communications Minister Anika Wells signaled short-term leniency for verification disruptions.
- Platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Twitch, Kick and Threads must block under-16 accounts or face fines up to A$49.5 million, while Discord and Roblox are currently excluded.
- Companies are deploying age-assurance tools such as facial-age estimation and ID or bank checks, but a government trial reported high misclassification rates for some teens, raising privacy and accuracy concerns.
- Two 15-year-olds won High Court review of a free-speech challenge slated for early 2026, as teens discuss workarounds including VPNs, using parents’ accounts and migrating to lesser-known apps.