Global tech giants Meta and TikTok have confirmed they will comply with Australia’s new law banning users under 16 from social media platforms, even as both companies warn that the policy could be extremely difficult to enforce.
Starting December 10, 2025, Australia will require platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and possibly Twitch and Roblox to remove users under the age of 16. The new law has attracted global attention as governments worldwide struggle to protect minors from online risks, including harmful content, cyberbullying, and data exploitation.
“Put simply, TikTok will comply with the law and meet our legislative obligations,” said Ella Woods-Joyce, TikTok’s Australia policy lead, during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
While the ban is being described as one of the strictest in the world, experts and tech leaders are questioning how effective it can truly be.
Challenges in Enforcing the Ban
With just weeks before the policy takes effect, Australia’s regulators are still grappling with key questions about how the ban will be enforced and what obligations social media companies must meet.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it will work to remove hundreds of thousands of underage users by the deadline but admitted the process poses “significant new engineering and age assurance challenges.”
“The goal from our perspective, being compliance with the law, would be to remove those under 16,” said Mia Garlick, Meta’s policy director.
Officials clarified that platforms will not be required to verify every user’s age, but they must take reasonable steps to identify and deactivate underage accounts.
Companies that fail to comply risk fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 32 million).
Tech Industry Pushback
Major tech companies have voiced unified concerns over the new law, calling it “vague,” “rushed,” and “problematic.”
TikTok warned that a blanket age ban could backfire, driving younger users into less regulated online spaces with little or no safety measures.
“Experts believe a ban will push younger people into darker corners of the internet where protections don’t exist,” Woods-Joyce said.
Similarly, YouTube criticized the ban as well-intentioned but poorly designed, arguing that it may fail to achieve its main goal — making kids safer online.
“The legislation will not only be extremely difficult to enforce, it also does not fulfil its promise of making kids safer online,” said Rachel Lord, YouTube’s local spokesperson.
Wider Impact Across Digital Platforms
Australia’s online watchdog has indicated that other platforms — including WhatsApp, Twitch, and Roblox — could also fall under the ban, expanding its reach beyond traditional social media.
If enforced effectively, the move could set a global precedent for regulating youth access to digital platforms. However, experts warn that without robust verification systems and clear enforcement mechanisms, the policy could lead to confusion, data privacy issues, and unintended consequences.
The Global Debate Continues
As the world watches, Australia’s approach is being seen as a test case for child protection laws in the digital age. Other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and members of the European Union, are also exploring stricter age-based controls on social media usage.
The challenge now lies in finding a balance between protecting children online and preserving privacy and digital freedom — a debate that is far from over.
