Social media giants Meta, TikTok, and Snap announced they will implement Australia’s ban on users under 16, despite continuing to oppose the legislation. The platforms will begin “taking reasonable steps” – which may include deactivating underage accounts – on December 10, 2025, when the law takes effect.

In parliamentary testimony, representatives from the three companies confirmed they are preparing for implementation while still questioning the ban’s effectiveness. According to Reuters, Meta plans to contact approximately 450,000 underage account holders across Instagram and Facebook, offering them options to either delete their data or store it until they turn 16.

“We don’t agree, but we accept and we will abide by the law,” Jennifer Stout, Snap’s SVP of Global Policy and Platform Operations, said in a statement.

TikTok and Snap also reported high numbers of underage Australian users, with TikTok identifying 200,000 accounts and Snap counting 440,000. Both companies outlined similar approaches to notifying affected users.

Detection Methods and Verification

The platforms will employ automated behavior-tracking software to identify potentially underage users who claim to be over 16. Meta and TikTok indicated they will refer users incorrectly flagged as underage to third-party age-estimation tools.

“Where we identify someone that is saying they’re 25, but the behaviors would indicate that they’re below the age of 16, from December 10th, we will have those accounts deactivated,” said Ella Woods-Joyce, TikTok’s Public Policy Lead for Australia.

YouTube Now Included

The announcement comes after Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed YouTube’s inclusion in the ban, reversing an earlier position that would have exempted the video platform. The decision was influenced by research from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner showing that 37% of surveyed children reported encountering harmful content on YouTube, with exposure rates reaching 46% among children aged 10-12.

“YouTube uses the same persuasive design features as other social media platforms, like infinite scroll, like autoplay and algorithmic feed,” Wells previously told the Australian parliament. “Our kids don’t stand a chance.”

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 can result in fines of up to AU$49.5 million (~US$32.74M) for platforms failing to prevent underage users from having or creating accounts. The law applies to services that allow users to interact with others and post material, although YouTube Kids and certain messaging, gaming, health, and education platforms remain exempt.

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