Australian Test Finds Age-Check Gaps Undermine Under-16 Social Media Ban

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Reuters, a software testing team that previously took part in Australia’s government age-verification trials found that social media platforms did not ask for proof of age when it created 50 test accounts after Australia’s social media law took effect in December, requiring platforms including Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube to bar users under 16 from opening accounts. KJR director Hammond said all 50 accounts, which declared an age of 16, remain active; some received ads for youth banking products and one account on X was recommended pornographic content. The test found that if users declared they were under 16, all platforms rejected registration. Snap and TikTok declined to comment, while Google and X did not respond. A Meta spokesperson said the test appeared inconsistent with regulator guidance, which calls for escalation to formal age verification only when a platform detects behavior suggesting a user may be underage or when an account is reported. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner’s office said it remains confident platforms have sufficient technology and resources to prevent under-16 Australian children from opening accounts.