Canberra : Social media companies must detect and deactivate accounts held by underage children when Australia’s world-first under-16 ban takes effect in December, the government revealed on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the federal government released regulatory guidance instructing technology companies on how to comply with the under-16 social media ban before it comes into effect on December 10.
The guidance instructs social media platforms to focus first on detecting and deactivating existing accounts held by children under 16, and to take reasonable steps to prevent removed users from immediately creating new accounts.
Platforms do not have to test the age of every user, and the government will not specify which technology they must use for age verification. However, companies must provide transparent and accessible information about how they enforce the ban and establish a process for disputes.
Under the legislation that passed federal parliament in December 2024, companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to enforce the ban face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33 million).
Communications Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant announced the guidelines at a press conference on Tuesday, noting that the government does not expect the ban to achieve full compliance immediately.
“We are not anticipating perfection here. These are world-leading laws, but we are requiring meaningful change through reasonable steps that will promote cultural change and create a chilling effect to keep kids safe,” Wells said.
Grant added that the government recognises building the required systems and technology will take time, and that her agency will initially focus on systemic failures by platforms to implement the required policies and processes, Xinhua news agency reported.
In August, the government released results from a trial showing that age assurance technologies can effectively enforce age-related eligibility requirements.
Also Read : UPI Transactions Cross 20 Billion in August 2025
