Friday, 20 June, 2025

Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Nears After Successful Age-Verification Trial

A government-commissioned Age Assurance Technology Trial in Australia has proven that private, robust age-verification methods—such as facial scans and behavioral analysis—can reliably block under-16s from social media. The findings clear the final hurdle for the Online Safety Amendment to take effect by year-end, imposing fines up to A$49.5 million on non-compliant platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Snap. Other countries may now adopt similar youth-protection measures.