Overview
- The law, effective December 10, requires major services including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, Threads and X to block or remove Australian users under 16.
- Officials asked platforms to report how many under‑16 accounts existed on December 9 versus December 11 and will publish initial tallies in two weeks with mandatory monthly updates for six months.
- Companies say they will comply using AI age‑estimation and selfie or ID checks, though accuracy gaps near the 16‑year threshold and privacy risks for biometric data have been flagged.
- Two Australian adolescents have sued alleging the law restricts political expression, and rights advocates, including Digital Freedom Project, plan broader constitutional challenges.
- Early shifts to less‑regulated apps and VPN workarounds have been observed, some services such as Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp are currently exempt, and governments in New Zealand, Malaysia and parts of Europe are studying similar steps.