Australia warns social media over child safety failures

Australia’s online safety regulator has raised concerns that major social media platforms are not doing enough to keep children under 16 off their services, despite a new law now in force.

The restriction, introduced in December 2025, bans users under 16 from accessing several popular platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. But the country’s eSafety body said there are serious gaps in how these rules are being applied.

In its first report after the ban, the regulator found that many underage users were still able to bypass age checks, while systems to stop new accounts and report violations remain weak.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said authorities will now step up enforcement and collect evidence to see whether companies have failed to take proper action.

Data showed that around 4.7 million accounts were restricted or removed in the first month of the ban. Still, access among under-16 users continues in many cases.

Tech companies say they are trying to follow the rules but face challenges. Meta noted that accurate age verification remains difficult across the industry, while Snap said it has already blocked hundreds of thousands of accounts.

Despite these efforts, reports suggest many young users are still active online. A visit to a school in Sydney found that several students continued using social media, some managing to avoid age restrictions.

The policy has received mixed reactions. Many parents support the move as a way to limit screen time and protect children. However, critics argue that education about online risks would be more effective than a ban. Some also say the rules may affect vulnerable groups who depend on online communities for connection.

Officials admit the changes challenge long-standing social media habits but insist that platforms must take stronger steps to follow the law.