Australia Leads Global Push to Shield Under-16s From Social Media Risks
A wave of new legislation aimed at protecting children online is gaining momentum, with Australia at the forefront. The country’s pioneering Social Media Youth Protection Act, which came into effect in December 2025, has already blocked over 4.7 million accounts believed to belong to users under the age of 16, signaling a significant shift in how social media platforms are regulated. Austria is poised to follow suit, and the European Union is developing its own comprehensive solution.
The Australian law places the onus of age verification squarely on the platforms themselves, a move that carries substantial financial risk. Companies face potential fines of up to 27 million euros for serious or repeated violations of the ban. According to government reports, within just four weeks of the law’s implementation, more than 4.7 million accounts were blocked.
Despite the initial success, Australian officials acknowledge challenges remain. Numerous children have reportedly circumvented the age verification measures using various techniques, continuing to access platforms despite the restrictions. This ongoing cat-and-mouse game is proving costly for major players like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Australia views itself as a leader in digital regulation, with a firm stance on protecting its youth. As one senior official stated, “Enough is enough.”
Currently, ten platforms are defined as social networks under the Australian law: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Kick, Twitch, and Reddit. Notably, Reddit is currently pursuing legal action, arguing it does not qualify as a social media platform. Platforms like YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp were excluded from the regulations as they do not meet the established criteria.
The implementation of the ban has necessitated the integration of new technologies, often leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), to verify user ages. This process requires the collection of sensitive data, including photo IDs and video selfies for confirmation. AI systems are also being employed to analyze online behavior and interactions to estimate the age of existing users. Facebook, for example, has offered users the option to restore mistakenly blocked accounts by submitting an account statement, a move that raises concerns given the company’s past data privacy issues.
The approach contrasts sharply with the European Union’s planned solution, the e-ID, a digital identity system currently slated for completion in 2027. The e-ID, an evolution of ID Austria, aims to allow users to verify their identity online via smartphone without sharing personal data directly with platforms. This offers a potentially more privacy-preserving alternative to the Australian model.
Greece is also forging its own path with the “Kids Wallet” app, developed in collaboration with the EU and launched in October of the previous year. This app empowers parents to control their children’s internet access, granting access to social media and gambling apps only to those of appropriate age. The app generates proof of age directly, without sharing personal details with the platform, ensuring only confirmation of age is provided.
The timeline for these developments is rapidly unfolding: the Australian ban is already in effect, Austria is preparing for implementation in 2026, and the EU-wide e-ID solution is expected by 2027. These initiatives represent a fundamental shift in the responsibility for online safety, moving it from individual users and parents to the platforms themselves.
