Meta, Snapchat Inform Users What to Expect from Australia’s Teen Ban

Meta has communicated with users of its platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Threads about what to expect from Australia’s under-16 social media ban, while Snapchat has also provided guidance ahead of the December 10 implementation. The proactive communication from these companies contrasts with silence from other major platforms including Reddit, X, TikTok and Kick, which haven’t publicly confirmed compliance plans or responded to questions about their approach.
YouTube has confirmed it will sign out underage users despite parent company Google’s extensive concerns about the legislation. Rachel Lord from Google’s policy division warned that removing account-based features eliminates important protections including parental supervision tools, content restrictions, and wellbeing reminders that promote healthy usage patterns. The company maintains the law was rushed and fundamentally misunderstands youth digital engagement.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has responded to industry pushback with unusually direct criticism, characterizing YouTube’s warnings as “outright weird” during her National Press Club address. Wells argued that platforms highlighting their own safety problems should focus on addressing those issues rather than opposing protective legislation. She emphasized that tech companies have deployed predatory algorithms to exploit teenage psychology for engagement and profit.
ByteDance’s Lemon8 app demonstrates the broader regulatory pressure Australia’s approach has created. The Instagram-style platform announced voluntary over-16 restrictions from December 10 despite not being explicitly named in legislation. Lemon8 had experienced increased interest specifically because it avoided the initial ban, but eSafety Commissioner monitoring prompted proactive compliance rather than waiting for potential future inclusion.
The government has acknowledged implementation won’t be perfect immediately, with Wells conceding it may take days or weeks to fully materialize, but emphasized authorities remain committed to the goal. The eSafety Commissioner will collect compliance data beginning December 11 with monthly updates, while platforms face penalties up to 50 million dollars for failing to remove underage users. The varied communication approaches from different platforms highlight the complexity of coordinating implementation across the social media industry, with some companies proactively preparing users while others remain silent about their compliance strategies as the deadline approaches.