Australia has launched an investigation into major technology companies after regulators warned that large numbers of children are still able to access social media despite a legal ban on users under 16.
Regulator raises concerns over enforcement
Meta, TikTok and Google are under scrutiny in Australia over suspected breaches of rules prohibiting under-16s from using social media platforms. The probe follows a warning from the national regulator that a significant number of minors continue to retain active accounts.
A survey of nearly 900 parents found that the share of underage users had fallen from 49% to 31%. However, around 70% of teenagers who previously held accounts on Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok reportedly retained access after the restrictions came into force.
Government criticises weak safeguards
Facebook and YouTube are also being examined as part of the inquiry. Communications minister Anika Wells said companies had not gone far enough to enforce the rules, adding that existing age-verification technologies remain ineffective and can be easily circumvented through repeated attempts.
The legislation, which came into force in December 2025, requires platforms to block users under 16 and imposes fines of up to A$49.5m for non-compliance. Meta said it was prepared to comply with the regulations but stressed that robust age verification remains a complex challenge for the entire industry.
Authorities admit limits of immediate impact
Despite the measures introduced, authorities acknowledge that completely excluding children from social media will not be achievable overnight. Nevertheless, officials argue the law has already reduced the number of underage users and should strengthen oversight by both platforms and parents.
Major social media platforms have reported a noticeable decline in their audiences since the minimum age law took effect. In early December, companies restricted access to approximately 4.7 million accounts believed to belong to users under the age of 16.
