Social Media Firms Failing to Enforce Australian Under-16 Ban, Watchdog Warns
Australia's internet regulator, eSafety, has issued a stark warning to the world's largest social media companies, stating they are failing to adequately enforce a ban on users under 16. The legislation, implemented in December, prohibits individuals under this age from accessing ten specified platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
Compliance Concerns
In its initial report since the ban's introduction, eSafety identified 'a number of poor practices' among the five platforms under scrutiny. While some initial actions, such as the restriction or removal of 4.7 million accounts in the first month, were acknowledged, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant expressed 'significant concerns' about ongoing compliance with Australian law.
The regulator, which has been monitoring the situation, will now commence enforcement actions and gather evidence. This evidence must demonstrate that platforms have not taken 'reasonable steps' to prevent under-16s from holding accounts, going beyond merely showing that some children still have access.
Industry and Public Response
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, affirmed its commitment to complying with the ban, but highlighted accurate age determination as an 'industry-wide challenge'. It advocates for 'robust age verification and parental approval' at the app store level as the most effective solution. Snap, developer of Snapchat, reported locking 450,000 accounts and continues to remove more daily.
Despite widespread public support for the ban, particularly among parents, many under-16s reportedly continue to use the platforms. Critics, including technology experts and child wellbeing advocates, question the ban's enforceability and argue for education on potential harms rather than outright prohibition. Concerns have also been raised about its disproportionate impact on minority groups who often find community online.
Commissioner Inman Grant acknowledged that 'durable, generational change takes time' but asserted that platforms 'have the capability to comply today'. She emphasised the pivotal role of parents in this 'cultural reset', noting that the law empowers them to refuse children's requests for social media accounts. She concluded by stating that while powerful industry interests will 'push back', the regulator 'continue to push ahead' for change.
