Meta, Tiktok and Google under investigation for allegedly disobeying Australia’s social media ban

Australia's government is investigating Meta, TikTok, and Google for allegedly failing to comply with the country's ban on social media use by children under 16, which took effect recently. A survey of 900 Australian parents found that 31% reported their children still maintained social media accounts after the ban took effect, down from 49% before the law, indicating widespread non-compliance despite the landmark restriction. The online safety office warned that nearly 70% of under-16s with accounts on Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok had retained access to those platforms. The investigation tests whether tech companies can be held legally accountable for enforcing age restrictions and represents one of the world's strictest youth social media bans. The findings suggest significant challenges in policing digital age verification at scale.