Australia’s online safety regulator has found that 80% children are easily bypassing social media age restrictions, just months ahead of a government-imposed ban on users under 16. The report by the eSafety Commissioner highlights the inefficacy of current verification methods used by major social media platforms.
The findings are based on a national survey of eight to 15-year-olds and responses from major social media platforms, including YouTube (Alphabet), Facebook and Instagram (Meta), Twitch (Amazon), TikTok (ByteDance), and Snapchat (Snap).
The study revealed that 80% of Australian children aged eight to 12 accessed social media in 2024, despite most platforms setting a minimum age of 13, reports Reuters. Industry leaders have already expressed their displeasure against this law.
A key issue identified is the reliance on self-declared birthdates for age verification. While all surveyed platforms except Reddit require users to enter a date of birth at sign-up, none employ robust age-assurance mechanisms beyond self-reporting.
“There is still significant work to be done by any social media platforms relying on truthful self-declaration to determine age with enforcement of the government’s minimum age legislation on the horizon,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said, emphasising the challenges ahead as Australia prepares to enforce the under-16 ban by the end for 2025.
Despite YouTube being the only platform allowing under-13 users under parental supervision via family accounts, the report found that none of the eight to 12-year-olds surveyed reported having their accounts shut down for being underage. The watchdog also found that 95% of children under 16 used at least one of the surveyed services.
Some platforms, including TikTok, Twitch, Snapchat, and YouTube, have implemented tools to detect underage users. A TikTok spokesperson claimed the company removed over a million Australian users suspected of being under 13 since 2023. However, other platforms, despite possessing the necessary technology, did not actively enforce age restrictions.
The companies are either playing the blame game or are keeping mum. Meta stated that while it supports age-appropriate experiences, it believes app stores should take responsibility for enforcing age limits.
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