Australia Investigates Top Social Platforms Over Under-16 Ban Violations

Australia's eSafety Commission has launched an investigation into Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and Google's YouTube for suspected violations of its landmark ban on social media use by users under 16.

The regulator found critical gaps in age verification systems, including repeated prompts for underage users to re-enter their age, weak reporting mechanisms, and inadequate safeguards blocking new underage accounts.

"We are now moving into an enforcement stance," said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. Platforms face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($34 million) and reputational harm if found non-compliant.

Each company has been notified of specific deficiencies and expected to remediate immediately.

TikTok declined to comment. Representatives for Meta, Snap, and Google were unavailable for response.