In an unprecedented move, Australia is set to implement age restrictions on popular social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Threads, Reddit, YouTube, Twitch, and Kick. These platforms will be required to block access to anyone under the age of 16.

The federal government has firmly stated that it is the responsibility of these companies to ensure that children do not have access to their services.

Social media platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent children under 16 from creating or using accounts, or they could face fines of up to $49.5 million.

This list of restricted platforms may expand as the policy develops.

In response, several social media companies have begun introducing features designed to deactivate or remove accounts belonging to users under 16 and to prevent new accounts from being created by children.

However, with the ban just days away, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said it was “disappointing” that some platforms have waited to the last minute to alert users.

“We suggested the best timeframe was two weeks in advance. My powers don’t come into effect until December 10, and that’s when we’ll start gathering information notices,” she said.

“We’ve been working on compliance plans. We’ve been engaging. We’ve been telling companies what best practice is.

“We’ve been talking to them for over a year.

“So this should be a surprise to none of them, but there’s nothing I can do, from a regulatory perspective, to light a fire under them, only that this is the right thing to do to their young users that are going to use the platform.”

Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Threads)

Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and Threads, started alerting users with a birthdate which ages them under 16 or are identifiable as under 16 that their accounts will no longer be active after December 10.

Instagram sent out a notification to users who will be impacted.

“Due to laws in Australia, soon you won’t be able to use social media until you’ve turned 16,” the message reads.

“You will not be able to use your Instagram account until you’ve turned 16. This means you can’t use Instagram and your profile won’t be visible to you or others until then.

“We’ll let you know when you can use Instagram again.”

If users want to adjust their birthdate in the apps to get around the ban, Meta has introduced a facial verification system which uses a video selfie.

It can take between one minute and 48 hours for Meta to verify someone’s age via selfie.

Meta may also ask users to prove their age by uploading an ID.

Snapchat says while it “strongly disagrees” with its inclusion, it will comply with the new laws.

Snapchat, owned by Snapchat Inc, will remove self-declared under 16 users and will use behavioural models to identify any other Australian users captured by the ban.

The platform said in a Senate inquiry earlier this year that an estimated 440,000 users in Australia are aged under 16.

Age verification methods will also be used to identify accounts which should be removed.

Users can do this through Photo ID, ConnectID via a bank or facial age estimation by k-ID.

TikTok, Reddit, X and Kick

TikTok’s parent company ByteDance also opposed the ban but said it would enforce it.

The app will deactivate any accounts owned by under 16s.

TikTok will ask for selfie IDs and a photo of a government-issued ID to verify the age of users.

Reddit and Kick – a livestreaming video app – were last month added to the list of platforms captured under the ban.

Both will deactivate accounts for users aged under 16.

X is not particularly popular with younger people but it is also part of the ban in Australia and will deactivate banned users.

X (formerly Twitter) also has live selfies for facial age estimation, powered by AI.

However, Grant recommended YouTube be included in the ban after the draft rules were released in June.

While Australians under 16 can still watch videos, they won’t not be able to create accounts or have access to features such as comment, like or subscribe.

Under 16s will only be allowed to have an account on YouTube Kids.

Accounts owned by children will be automatically deactivated by the app.

YouTube also uses an “age estimation model” to determine the age of users currently.

If the model incorrectly determines a person’s age, users can verify their birthdate by submitting your government ID, credit card or selfie.