New Compliance Requirements for Social Media Apps Under Australia’s Under-16 Ban

Australia’s law requires any platform operating in the country to prevent under-16 users from opening new accounts and to begin disabling existing accounts held by minors. Major social apps — including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Twitch, Threads, and YouTube (excluding YouTube Kids) — fall under the mandate. Companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to remove underage users will face significant penalties after a one-year transition period.

Developer Responsibilities Under the Ban

Starting December 10, developers must immediately:

• Deactivate all identified accounts held by users under 16.
• Block all new signups from under-16 users.

Australian regulators may expand the list of covered platforms over time, depending on where minors migrate after enforcement begins.

Apple’s Compliance Toolkit for Developers

Apple has released developer features and App Store options designed to help apps deliver age-appropriate experiences and signal compliance.

Declared Age Range API

The Declared Age Range API enables apps to request a user’s age range (not an exact birthdate) in a privacy-preserving way so apps can tailor UI, features and access controls for younger audiences. This API is intended to reduce the need for apps to collect sensitive birthdate data directly.

App Store Metadata and In-App Control Flags

Developers can use the App Store product page—app description, updated age-ratings questionnaire and in-app controls fields—to declare age assurance and parental controls. An optional Age Suitability URL can link to region-specific compliance details (for example, Australia’s under-16 prohibition). Apple also allows developers to set a higher age rating than the auto-generated value if appropriate.

👉 Apple App Store Age Rating Update: Developer Guide

Practical Steps for Developer Compliance

1. Map user flows where account creation and age-sensitive features exist; implement age checks and gating.

2. Integrate platform age signals (Declared Age Range API on Apple devices) while providing fallback solutions where the API is unavailable (older OS versions or non-Apple platforms).

3. Update App Store metadata: add clear app descriptions, flag presence of age assurance/parental controls, and add an Age Suitability URL for Australia-specific info.

4. Prepare operational processes to review and deactivate under-16 accounts and to log compliance actions for audits.

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Challenges, Gaps and Likely Responses

• Technical gaps: Not all users are on the latest OS versions that support Apple’s API; developers will need fallback verification flows or heuristics.

• Privacy vs. verification trade-offs: Strong age assurance often relies on behavioral signals or ID checks, which raise privacy and accessibility concerns.

• Workarounds and enforcement: Young people may attempt to bypass checks; robust monitoring and cross-platform strategies will be needed. Regulators face practical enforcement challenges, especially with international platforms.

Editor’s Comments

Australia’s move signals a turning point in how governments approach online safety — shifting from soft guidance to hard, enforceable restrictions. The policy’s ambition is clear, but its effectiveness will depend on whether platforms can reliably verify age without compromising privacy or creating barriers for legitimate users. The industry is also entering a phase where age-assurance technology may become a competitive differentiator, not just a compliance checkbox.

There is a real possibility that minors will migrate to less-regulated platforms or fringe apps, which could weaken the intended protective effect. On the other hand, Apple’s system-level tools show how platform operators can shape regulatory outcomes by providing standardized, privacy-first verification mechanisms. Expect other regions — especially in Europe and parts of Asia — to watch Australia closely and potentially adopt similar under-16 restrictions if the rollout proves workable.