Australia Implements Teen Social Media Restrictions: Essential Insights You Need

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The federal government’s long-awaited social media ban for children under 16 is on the verge of taking effect.

The restrictions will prevent Australian children from creating or keeping an account on many popular social platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.

Communications Minister Anika Wells has repeatedly said the ban will protect children from exposure to pressures and risks that come with being logged into social media accounts and insists any “short-term discomfort will be worth the long-term benefits”.

A spokesperson clarified that while short-term visitors in Australia may not immediately encounter their age assurance protocols, those who remain for longer durations, such as students, will indeed be subject to these measures.

The ban comes into force on Wednesday 10 December — the deadline for specified social media platforms to restrict users aged under 16 from accessing their accounts.

Meta has confirmed users aged under 16 travelling overseas for a short-term holiday will still be restricted from using Facebook and Instagram.

For temporary visa holders, such as international students, a spokesperson for the eSafety commissioner said the rules apply to young people under 16 who are “ordinarily resident” in Australia and that these users should be aware their accounts may be flagged.

The Meta spokesperson said it’s unlikely teens who enter Australia for a short holiday will have their accounts restricted.

— Facebook

— Instagram

The platforms banned had to meet certain criteria as decided by Wells, which includes that they allow users to interact, and link, with other users, and post material.

As of 21 November, eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant decided the following services will be age-restricted social media platforms:

— Kick

— Reddit

— Kick

— Reddit

— Snapchat

— Threads

— TikTok

— Twitch

— X

— YouTube

Could more apps be added to Australia’s social media ban?

The following platforms will not be age-restricted, at least, for now:

— Discord

— GitHub

— Google Classroom

— LEGO Play

— Messenger

— Pinterest

— Roblox

— Steam and Steam Chat

— WhatsApp

Inman Grant says the list is dynamic, meaning there could be additions to age-restricted platforms, especially if children flock to one platform amid the ban.

Several smaller apps are growing in popularity as children migrate to those not included in the ban.

They include Lemon8, which has agreed to restrict use of its app to those 16 and older as of Wednesday.

How will age verification work on social media platforms?

It’s ultimately up to the platform to decide how it will verify the age of its users. However, the government says requesting ID cannot be the only method.

Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta hasn’t specified how it plans to verify users’ ages. However, it has already notified users aged 13 to 15 that their accounts will be shut down.

About 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts are expected to be affected.

TikTok said in a statement it already uses a “multi-layered approach that combines technology and human moderation to detect accounts used by teens who may not have provided their correct date of birth”.

Snapchat has told users it will verify ages through k-ID, which is an age assurance platform, or data verification site ConnectID. Users can also upload government-issued photo identification.

Kick will also use the same k-ID technology, while YouTube said it would determine age based on its associated Google account and other signals.

Can kids get around the social media ban?

Platforms face up to $49.5 million in fines if they do not take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from holding an account.

As outlined by eSafety, this includes measures to prevent children from using false identity documents, AI tools or deepfakes, and from using virtual private networks (VPNs) to make it appear as though they’re outside the country.

Platforms could also investigate signals such as activity patterns consistent with school schedules, connections with other users under 16, and analysis of the language level and style used by the account holder.

They can also use location-based signals such as IP addresses, device language and time settings and an Australian phone number.

Will children or parents be penalised if they do access an account?

There are no penalties for children, parents or carers. The government has stated the age-restriction laws are to encourage platforms to take greater responsibility for a child’s safety.

Therefore, it is the platforms themselves that could face penalties of up to $49.5 million if they don’t take the steps to implement the changes as laid out by the Australian government.

eSafety has also warned that if your child is asked to pay a fine for being on social media while under 16, it is a scam.