Australia’s online safety regulator has raised serious concerns over the failure of major social media platforms, including Meta, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, to fully comply with the country’s landmark ban on under-16 users, warning that legal action could follow if shortcomings persist.
The concerns were outlined in the first compliance report released by the office of the eSafety Commissioner since the law came into force in December 2025. The legislation, among the strictest globally, requires social media companies to prevent children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts, with heavy penalties for non-compliance.
According to the report, while platforms have taken some steps—resulting in the deactivation of around five million accounts belonging to Australian minors—a significant number of underage users continue to access these services. Many have reportedly been able to retain existing accounts, create new ones, or bypass age verification systems altogether.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said her office has “significant concerns” about the compliance levels of several platforms and is gathering evidence to determine whether they have failed to take “reasonable steps” required under the law. Authorities are now considering court proceedings against companies found to be systematically non-compliant.
Under the legislation, companies that fail to enforce the rules could face fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately $33 million). A decision on potential legal action is expected by mid-2026.
The report also identified multiple lapses in enforcement practices. These include allowing users unlimited attempts to pass age-verification checks and prompting individuals to retry verification processes even after declaring themselves underage. Such loopholes, regulators argue, undermine the effectiveness of the law and allow children to remain active on platforms.
Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells accused tech companies of doing the “bare minimum” to comply with the legislation, suggesting that platforms may be deliberately resisting strict enforcement. She argued that global technology firms fear the Australian model could be replicated elsewhere, setting a precedent for tighter regulation worldwide.
In response, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said it remains committed to complying with the law but acknowledged that accurately verifying users’ ages online remains a complex challenge across the industry.
Not all platforms have come under scrutiny. Services such as Reddit, X, Twitch and Threads were not included among those facing potential investigation, indicating varying levels of compliance across the sector.
The developments highlight the broader global debate around regulating children’s access to social media. Australia’s move has already influenced discussions in other countries considering similar restrictions, even as questions remain about enforcement challenges and the effectiveness of age-verification systems in the digital environment.
