Big Tech Firms Admit Under-16s Still Accessing Social Media Despite Ban

Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat acknowledged that young people were circumventing age checks, but said they were working to improve their systems.

Big Tech Firms Admit Under-16s Still Accessing Social Media Despite Ban

TL;DR

  • Major social media platforms acknowledge that users under 16 are accessing their services, bypassing existing bans.
  • Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube are actively working to address this issue.
  • The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee is considering the Online Safety Amendment Bill.
  • The bill proposes doubling civil penalties for platforms violating the social media ban to $99 million and grants the eSafety Commissioner more power to demand evidence.