Necessary Always Active
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Published on
October 28, 2025
5 min read
Meta, TikTok, Snapchat to Comply with Australia’s Social Media Ban Law
In Focus
- Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat will comply with Australia’s social media ban law
- The companies will deactivate under-16 accounts starting December 10
- The three platforms previously opposed the ban
Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat have committed to comply with Australia’s social media ban law. According to Reuters, the platforms said they will start deactivating accounts owned by minors on December 10.
Social Media Platforms Previously Opposed the Ban
Meta, ByteDance and Snap previously opposed the ban saying it would push teens to dangerous internet spaces that are poorly monitored. They argued that the ban would deny teens social contacts and implementation would be complicated
Australia’s under 16 social media rule was approved by the Senate in November 2024. The law was passed after intense public debate and a rushed process where parliament debated and voted the bill within a week.
Major tech companies criticized Australia for rushing the law, which requires social media platforms to take reasonable measures to keep minors from accessing social media or face penalties of up to $32.5 million.
Platforms will Abide by the Social Media Ban Law
In response to the youth ban, Meta, TikTok, and Snap maintained the move will not protect minors. They said they will contact over a million holders of underage accounts to inform them about the change.
“We don’t agree, but we accept and we will abide by the law,” Snap’s Senior VP for Global Policy and Platform Operations Jennifer Stout said.
Snap has 440,000 under-16 accounts in Australia. Meta will reach out to account holders who have confirmed to be below 16. Meta said 450,000 accounts on Instagram and Facebook are held by under-16 users. The platform unveiled teen accounts for Facebook and Messenger in April. 2025.
The company will ask the users to delete their data or store it until they turn 16. TikTok opposed the ban, but said it will comply with the new law and fulfill its obligations. The platform has 200,000 under-16 accounts in Australia.
Australia Social Media Ban at a Glance
- The ban law was passed in November 2024
- Social platforms are required to take measures to keep minors off social media
- Non-compliance attracts penalties of up to $32.5 million
How will Platforms Verify Users’ Ages Under the New Law?
The companies will use behaviour-tracking software to identify under-16 users and deactivate accounts of users who attempt to bypass age restrictions.
Early this year, questions about the effectiveness of the under 16 social media ban were raised after a report by the online safety regulator, eSafety Commission revealed minors could bypass age restrictions.
Meta and TikTok said users who are incorrectly identified as under-16 would be referred to a third-party age-estimation platform. Snap is still developing a solution for such users.
Globally, Australia’s new social media law for minors has captured the attention of lawmakers who are concerned about the impact of social media on teen mental health.
