Restrictions on children’s access to social media are a controversial topic that has captured the attention of numerous governments around the world. Age verification systems on tech platforms are suddenly becoming a pressing issue, requiring not only precision but also a quick turnaround time for implementation. However, this is not an overnight problem, but an ethical, global, urgent one.
As the landmark under-16 social media ban in Australia takes effect in December 2025, with other countries such as France and Spain proposing similar laws, technology firms are racing to develop technology that can verify a user’s age without compromising privacy or inadvertently locking out vulnerable groups. Fortunately, this is not uncharted territory.
A global regulatory push
The legislation was passed in Australia, which will make it illegal for children under the age of 16 to have accounts on sites like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and potentially YouTube, which is currently under review for exemption.
The act places the onus on the platforms rather than the users and requires them to either take “reasonable steps” to ensure the verification of age or face fines up to AU$49.5 million per violation.
