Australia Investigates Tech Giants Over Under-16 Social Media Ban

Australia is investigating Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube for possible breaches of its under-16 social media ban, accusing big tech companies of 'failing to obey' world-leading laws. According to multiple reports, Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that Australia will not let social media giants take advantage of the situation.

The investigation follows a survey revealing that 31% of Australian parents reported their children still had one or more social media accounts after the ban, compared to 49% before the laws. The eSafety Commission flagged significant concerns about Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

'None of this is impossible. None of this is even difficult for big tech who are innovative billion-dollar companies,' Wells said. 'If these companies want to do business in Australia, they must obey Australian laws.' The eSafety Commission has identified poor practices such as platforms allowing unlimited attempts for age verification and prompting users to try passing the age assurance method even after declaring themselves underage.

Tech companies face fines of up to $33.9 million (Aus$49.5 million) under the laws, with Australia deciding on any punishments by mid-2026. More than five million accounts belonging to underage Australian users have been removed since the laws came into effect. The ban has drawn interest globally, with countries like Malaysia, France, New Zealand, and Indonesia considering similar measures.

Social media companies have pledged to abide by the laws but warned that the measures could push teenagers into unregulated corners of the internet. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, stated that accurately proving users' ages had been 'a challenge for the whole industry.' Snapchat reported locking 450,000 accounts in compliance with the law.

Since Australia banned children from using social media in December, lawmakers from Spain to Malaysia have expressed interest in following suit. According to Reuters, U.S. courts have found tech firms negligent toward young users. The global spotlight on this first such ban has encouraged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government to ramp up enforcement.

The eSafety regulator had previously said it would only take enforcement action in cases of systemic noncompliance. In its first comprehensive compliance report, the regulator said nearly one-third of parents reported their under-16 child still had at least one social media account. Among those, two-thirds said the platform had not asked the child's age.