Overview
- The eSafety Commissioner has issued information notices to the 10 named services and will report publicly on implementation and early compliance before Christmas.
- Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Reddit, Twitch, Kick and Threads must take “reasonable steps” to block under‑16 accounts, while services like WhatsApp, email and most games are excluded.
- Communications Minister Anika Wells said more than 200,000 TikTok accounts in Australia had already been deactivated, with reports of large-scale logouts across platforms.
- Day-one rollout showed ‘teething issues’ and circumvention as some under‑16s registered or stayed online using VPNs, makeup or older helpers, with officials warning retrospective checks will remove remaining accounts.
- Platforms and digital-rights groups continue to criticize or challenge the law, as courts weigh cases and governments in Europe, New Zealand, Denmark and Malaysia study Australia’s approach.