Major social networks have recorded significant declines in their audiences since Australia's minimum user age law came into effect. In early December, the platforms restricted access to about 4.7 million accounts of children under 16, AdNews reported.
The new requirements take effect on December 10 and apply to Facebook and Instagram (both social networks blocked in Russia, owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation), Snapchat (blocked in Russia), TikTok, YouTube, X (blocked in Russia) and Reddit. For the first time in the world, the law shifts the responsibility for complying with age restrictions from users to the platforms themselves, forcing them to prevent the registration of minors and delete existing accounts.
The Australian Internet Safety Commissioner noted that the focus has shifted from preparedness to active monitoring and control, particularly for services heavily used by children and young people. Early results show that platforms have begun to take real steps to reduce the presence of underage users.
They also emphasized that implementing an age verification system will require time and refinement. The regulator admitted that some accounts of users under 16 years old remained active. The effectiveness of the law will be assessed by reducing potential harm and gradually changing behavioral norms.
The agency also monitors the migration of audiences to alternative services. Despite the growth in downloads of individual platforms, their usage has not grown equivalently. Monitoring of compliance with the law will continue but data on compliance with requirements by specific companies will not be published.
Previously, Reddit filed a lawsuit demanding that Australia's ban on minors using social networks be invalidated or the platform be removed from the law. The company argued that the regulation violates freedom of political communication and unduly restricts youth participation in political and public discussions.
