Social Media Giants Warn Ban Will Drive Under 16s to ‘Darker Corners’ of Internet

From Dec. 10, platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube must remove accounts belonging to users under 16.

In this photo illustration, a teenager uses her mobile phone to access social media in New York City, on Jan. 31, 2024. illustration by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Australia’s major social media platforms have agreed to enforce the federal government’s ban on children under 16 using their apps, but warn the move could drive teens toward unsafe corners of the internet and weaken public confidence in the rules.

From Dec. 10, platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube must remove accounts belonging to users under 16.