Australia's eSafety commissioner has published regulatory guidance for social media platforms to implement minimum age requirements taking effect December 10.
The guidance outlines how age-restricted social media platforms can prevent children under 16 from holding accounts through age assurance technologies, improved reporting systems and clear user communication.
The requirements follow the world-first legislation targeting social media access for minors. Digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube, could face fines of up to $49.5 million if they fail to stop underage users from having an account.
An independent trial has found technology can effectively screen young Australians for the coming age restrictions.
"As we work towards implementing this world-first legislation, we remain deeply engaged with industry to ensure they have all of the information they need to comply," said Julie Inman Grant, eSafety commissioner.
The principles-based guidance encourages platforms to take layered approaches across user journeys through systems, technologies, processes and policies.
Key expectations include detecting and deactivating existing underage accounts with clear communication, preventing re-registration by users whose accounts have been removed, and providing accessible review mechanisms for users who believe they have been wrongly flagged.
"Our principles-based guidance recognises that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for industry, given the diversity of platforms and technology and to help technology companies meet their obligations in a way that is effective, privacy-preserving and fair," Inman Grant said.
The guidance specifies that platforms cannot rely on self-declaration alone and must continuously monitor systems while providing transparent information about age assurance practices.
However, eSafety is not requiring platforms to verify the age of all users, with blanket age verification potentially considered unreasonable if existing data can reliably infer age.
Platforms cannot use government identification as the sole method and must offer reasonable alternatives.
"We know that many companies are already using sophisticated age indicators—such as behavioural data and natural language processing and analysis—to estimate how old their users are," Inman Grant said.
The guidance encourages platforms to leverage existing signals for safety purposes while protecting user privacy. Companies are not required to use specific technologies or vendors, including those assessed in the Age Assurance Technology Trial.
Platforms must not retain personal data from individual age checks, with record-keeping focused on systems and processes rather than user-level data. Underage users cannot be automatically transferred to other services without explicit consent.
"This legislation puts the onus on platforms, not parents, carers or young people," Inman Grant said.
"To that end, eSafety will be assessing a platform's compliance based on implementation of systems and processes, not based on individual user accounts."
The legislation specifically prohibits platforms from compelling Australians to use government identification to prove age online, though it may be offered as one option alongside reasonable alternatives.
eSafety also published a statement reaffirming commitment to children's digital rights in implementing the legislation.
"Children's best interests are at the heart of everything we do at eSafety and we are seeking to strike a delicate balance," Inman Grant said.
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