Australia Investigates Social Media Giants Over Under-16 Ban Violations

Australia’s online safety regulator has launched an investigation into major social media platforms for allegedly failing to comply with a nationwide ban on users under the age of 16.

The probe targets Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, nearly four months after the landmark law came into effect.

According to a survey conducted by the eSafety Commission involving 898 parents, the percentage of children with social media accounts has dropped from about half to one-third since the ban was introduced in December. However, compliance remains inconsistent. Before the ban, 60–70% of under-16 users were active on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, while nearly 50% still maintain accounts on YouTube.

The regulator has accused some companies of failing to provide clear and effective reporting systems for underage users. It has also gathered evidence suggesting that platforms allowed repeated age verification attempts until users succeeded and did not take sufficient steps to prevent children from creating new accounts after being removed.

A detailed report released Tuesday highlighted multiple loopholes, including systems that inadvertently encouraged minors to access these platforms despite restrictions.

The ban, introduced on December 10, led to the deactivation of over 4.7 million accounts within the first two days. By early March, an additional 310,000 accounts had been blocked due to age violations, according to updated data from the regulator.

Julie Inman Grant said the commission is moving toward stricter enforcement measures. She warned that companies must comply with Australian safety laws or face escalating consequences, including reputational damage among governments and consumers worldwide.

Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that investigations are ongoing into potential systemic failures by the platforms. She stated that companies failing to meet their legal obligations could face strong regulatory action.

Authorities emphasized that this is a world-leading law and signaled readiness to take cases to Australia’s Federal Court if necessary. Officials also noted that tech companies operating in Australia must adhere to local laws or risk losing the ability to do business in the country.

The investigation marks a significant step toward stricter global regulation of social media platforms, particularly concerning the protection of children and teenagers online.