Australia’s internet regulator announced on Tuesday an investigation targeting major tech companies, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, accused of violating the ban on social media use by minors under the age of 16.
Australia became the first country in December to ban social media for children, aiming to protect them from harmful effects on mental health.
“While social media platforms have taken some initial steps, I am concerned (…) that some of them may not be doing enough to comply with Australian law,” said regulator Julie Inman Grant.
There are “serious concerns” that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube may have breached the ban, Grant added. “As a result, we are now moving into an enforcement posture.”
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Companies targeted by the ban could face fines exceeding €25 million.
“They can choose to comply with the law or face increasingly severe consequences, including a deep erosion of their reputation with governments and consumers worldwide,” Grant warned.
“While social media platforms have taken some initial steps, I am concerned (…) that some of them may not be doing enough to comply with Australian law,” said regulator Julie Inman Grant. Credits: Adam Vaughan
The regulator acknowledged that resistance from tech giants is likely, particularly as “this reform brings an end to 20 years of deeply entrenched social media habits.”
The rollout of the ban is being closely monitored worldwide, especially by countries considering similar measures.
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Indonesia last week banned social media access for users under 16, while Brazil has, since early March, required these users’ accounts to be linked to their parents. Similar initiatives are underway in several European countries, including France, where a ban on social media for under-15s is being debated in the Senate.
In Australia, platforms are solely responsible for ensuring that users in the country are over 16. Some companies say they use artificial intelligence tools to estimate age from photos, while others allow users to upload identification documents.
Most companies have pledged to comply with the law but warned it could push teenagers toward less regulated and potentially more dangerous platforms.
Although several studies show the negative effects of excessive time spent online, early results of the measure “suggest it is not achieving its goals of improving the safety and well-being of young Australians,” Meta argued in January.
The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, also said that parents and experts are concerned that young people could become isolated from online communities.
The website Reddit has filed a legal challenge against the Australian ban, calling it “legally flawed.”
According to the U.S.-based company, age verification raises serious privacy concerns, as collecting personal data increases the risk of data breaches or theft.
