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Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Takes Effect Wednesday as Platforms Move to Comply

The world-first law makes platforms, not families, responsible for blocking underage accounts under threat of heavy fines.

Overview

  • Dawn enforcement covers ten services — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Reddit, Threads, Twitch and Kick — with regulators saying the list can expand as young users shift apps.
  • Reddit blasted the policy as “legally erroneous” yet said it will comply using an age‑prediction model, joining other major platforms that have outlined layered age‑assurance measures.
  • A High Court challenge by two 15‑year‑olds is pending, and New South Wales and South Australia have intervened to defend the legislation.
  • Officials warn the rollout will be staggered and imperfect, with a transition period before penalties bite and independent evaluation led by Stanford researchers tracking real‑world impacts.
  • Polling shows roughly two‑thirds of voters back the ban, yet most parents doubt platforms can fully enforce it and many teens are expected to try workarounds such as VPNs, raising concerns about uneven effects in remote communities.