Australia is taking a bold step to protect young users online. Starting December 10, 2025, major social media platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Roblox will be required to ban users under the age of 16.
Both Meta and TikTok have officially confirmed they will comply with the new law, which is being described as one of the strictest social media regulations in the world. However, the companies have also warned that implementing the ban will be a major technical challenge.
TikTok’s Australia policy lead Ella Woods-Joyce said that while the platform will follow the law, experts fear it could have unintended consequences, potentially driving young users to unsafe online spaces with fewer protections.
Meta’s policy director Mia Garlick added that the company plans to remove hundreds of thousands of underage accounts before the law takes effect. She admitted that age detection technology remains a significant challenge, with engineers still working on compliance systems.
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Under the legislation, companies are not required to verify every user’s age. But must take reasonable steps to detect and remove accounts belonging to underage users. Those failing to comply could face fines of up to $32 million.
YouTube’s local spokesperson Rachel Lord echoed similar concerns, calling the policy “well-intentioned but poorly designed.” She warned it might not effectively make children safer online.
The Australian eSafety Commission has hinted that the Australia social media ban could soon extend to other platforms. Like Twitch and Roblox, although the details are still being finalized.
With less than six weeks before the law is enforced, questions about enforcement and effectiveness remain unanswered. Still, the move marks a turning point in how nations approach online child safety and digital regulation.
