Meta, TikTok, and Snap to Comply with Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban

Meta Platforms (META, Financials), TikTok owner ByteDance, and Snap said they will comply with Australia's new law banning social media use by users under 16, even as they maintain opposition to the policy. The law, effective Dec. 10, requires platforms to block underage users or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.

In a parliamentary session Tuesday, the companies confirmed they will begin notifying affected users and preparing to deactivate underage accounts. Meta said it had identified about 450,000 users under 16 across Instagram and Facebook. TikTok estimated 200,000 such users in Australia, and Snap cited about 440,000.

Mia Garlick, Meta's policy director for Australia and New Zealand, said the company would contact underage account holders to either delete their data or store it until they reach 16. TikTok's public policy lead Ella Woods-Joyce said the platform was on track to meet compliance, while Snap's global policy executive Jennifer Stout said the company would abide by the law despite disagreement with it.

The companies previously warned the ban could drive minors to unregulated online spaces and restrict social connection. They will now use behavior-tracking systems to detect underage activity and employ third-party age-estimation tools to verify users who are incorrectly flagged.

Lawmakers worldwide are watching Australia's approach amid growing concerns about social media's impact on youth mental health. The companies are expected to complete compliance measures before the December deadline.