Australia's government has acknowledged its world-first plan to bar children under 16 from social media platforms will not work perfectly from day one, with the full effect potentially taking "days or even weeks" to materialise. The ban is scheduled to commence on 10 December.
Platforms on Notice as Ban Deadline Looms
Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that while the ban will become law next Wednesday, the process of filtering out underage accounts will be gradual. With nearly 86% of Australian children aged 8 to 15 using social media, Wells stated it would take time for age assurance systems to identify and remove existing accounts and prevent new ones.
"We know it won't be perfect from day one but we won't give up – and we won't let the platforms off the hook," Wells will tell the National Press Club, according to advance excerpts of her speech. She conceded some children will circumvent the rules initially, and there will likely still be underage accounts active on 10 December and for some time after.
Lemon8 App to Self-Restrict, More Platforms Could Follow
In a significant development, the social media app Lemon8, which has seen a surge in interest as it was not originally included in the ban, will restrict its users to those aged over 16 from next week. Guardian Australia can reveal that Lemon8, owned by ByteDance – the parent company of TikTok – has made this decision following contact from the eSafety Commission.
The Commission had warned it was monitoring the Instagram-style app for possible inclusion in the ban. Minister Wells hinted that the list of prohibited platforms is not static. She warned that if children migrate to sites not currently listed, such as LinkedIn, and those platforms then host harmful content targeting teens, the government "will go after" them.
"That's why all platforms are on notice. We have to be agile and dynamic," Wells said at a press conference in Adelaide.
Compliance and Enforcement Timeline
Major platforms face fines of up to $50 million if they fail to take steps to remove users under 16. However, the immediate enforcement will be measured. The eSafety Commission will first seek information from platforms on 11 December about their efforts to purge underage users, followed by monthly data requests.
"The government recognises that age assurance may require several days or even weeks to complete fairly and accurately," Wells will say.
As of Tuesday, several large platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, X, Reddit, and Kick, had not publicly confirmed their compliance methods. Meta has informed users of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Threads what to expect.
The government maintains that sending a strong signal about the risks of social media to children is valuable, even if some slip through the net initially. The policy has faced scrutiny from the Coalition over its timing and implementation, and at least one legal challenge is underway. Wells asserted the government "will not be flinching in the face of any intimidation, any threats" from tech giants considering challenging the ban.
