The Australian government has issued guidance outlining how tech companies must comply with the upcoming ban on social media accounts for users under 16, effective December 10.
The rules, building on earlier advice from the eSafety Commission, require platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to take “reasonable steps” to detect and remove underage users and block them from rejoining. Professional, education, health, and gaming services are likely exempt.
Platforms must notify users when accounts are removed, set up systems to detect circumvention attempts like VPN use, and provide review options for wrongly restricted users. Age checks must use multiple methods but cannot rely solely on government IDs, nor retain personal data from verification.
The law does not fully block under-16s from viewing public content without accounts, though enforcement may be complicated by shared devices. Caregivers are expected to help guide young users under the new system.
Tech companies must design their own compliance processes, using existing account data where possible. Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed the law will take effect as planned, warning platforms there is “no excuse for non-compliance.”
Along social media ban, Australia Extends Teen Social Media Ban to YouTube
