Technology giants operating in Australia will come under tighter scrutiny beginning December 10, 2025, as authorities move to enforce strict age-assurance rules across major social media and livestreaming services. Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Kick, and Twitch could be penalized up to 50 million Australian dollars if they are found to have failed to take “reasonable steps” to eliminate accounts belonging to users younger than 16.
The following day, December 11, the eSafety Commissioner will issue formal notices to the 10 companies, compelling them to detail how many underage accounts they have removed. The directive will not be a one-off: the same demand for data will be sent every month for six consecutive months as regulators monitor compliance.
Communications Minister Anika Wells, speaking at the National Press Club of Australia, said authorities are aware that the verification process is not instantaneous. “The government recognizes that age assurance may require several days or weeks to complete fairly and accurately,” she said. She also emphasized that penalties would apply only if investigators found widespread breaches of the law. “However, if eSafety identifies systemic breaches of the law, the platforms will face fines,” she added. According to the regulator, a court would determine the exact amount, up to the full maximum, in cases involving repeated violations.
Several companies have outlined how they plan to respond ahead of the enforcement date. Google announced that users in Australia identified as under 16 will be automatically signed out of YouTube starting December 10, losing access to account-dependent functions such as playlists. The company said it would rely on information already tied to users’ Google accounts, along with additional internal indicators, to confirm ages.
Meta has also begun preparing for removals across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The company said accounts believed to belong to young children will start being taken down from Thursday. For older users who may be incorrectly removed, Meta said they can seek reinstatement through Yoti Age Verification by presenting a government-issued ID or submitting a video selfie.
