Overview
- Australia’s nationwide minimum age of 16 for major social platforms takes effect on December 10, with penalties up to A$49.5 million for systemic failures to block underage accounts.
- Snapchat has begun asking Australian users to verify ages via bank-linked checks, government ID or third‑party facial estimation, and says under‑16 accounts will be locked from December 10.
- Meta has started notifying potentially affected teens in Australia, offering data downloads and options to suspend accounts until age 16 or delete them entirely, while TikTok touts a multi‑layered age‑assurance approach.
- Malaysia’s cabinet has approved a comparable under‑16 prohibition starting in 2026 and expects platforms to implement eKYC age checks using MyKad, passports or a national digital ID under its Online Safety Act effective January 1, 2026.
- Researchers and privacy advocates caution that ID and biometric verification can misclassify users, erode anonymity and drive minors to less regulated services, even as more countries in Europe consider similar measures.