Platforms are not required to re-verify all users but must block underage registrations, monitor suspicious accounts, and provide easy complaint mechanisms.
Australia is set to become the first country in the world to ban social media access for teenagers under 16, urging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to adopt “minimally invasive” AI-driven age verification methods to enforce the law.
The teen social media ban, passed in November 2024, aims to protect children’s mental health and online safety, with enforcement beginning December 10, 2025. The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasized that social media giants already have the AI, behavioural data, and targeting technology needed to detect and deactivate underage accounts without intrusive measures.
Communications Minister Annika Wells revealed the long-awaited steps tech giants will be expected to take to comply with the ban alongside eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant on Tuesday, three months before platforms like Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube will be expected to purge underage accounts.
The ban reflects growing global concerns over teen addiction, cyberbullying, online privacy, and mental health risks linked to social media. With 95% of 13–15-year-olds in Australia using at least one platform, officials believe this policy will set a global benchmark in digital child protection.
By requiring AI-powered age checks and tightening regulations, Australia is positioning itself as a leader in online child safety, digital regulation, and responsible technology governance.
