Sydney, 13 October 2025 — Alphabet-owned Google has raised strong concerns over Australia’s new law prohibiting anyone under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, cautioning that the measure may prove both unenforceable and ineffective in improving online safety.
The law, passed in late 2024, requires platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube to take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage users from creating or maintaining accounts. Companies face penalties of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million) for non-compliance.
Google’s Position
At a parliamentary hearing on Monday, Rachel Lord, Google and Youtube’s senior manager for government affairs in Australia, described the legislation as “well-intentioned” but warned of “unintended consequences.”
- Google argued that banning access outright will not automatically make children safer.
- The company stressed that age estimation through AI and behavioural data, the method proposed by the government, is unreliable and risks both blocking legitimate users and failing to detect underage accounts.
- Lord emphasized that parental controls, safety features, and digital education are more effective tools than blanket restrictions.
Government’s Rationale
The Australian government has defended the law as a world-first step to address the impact of social media on youth mental health, citing concerns over screen addiction, cyberbullying, and harmful content exposure.
The eSafety Commissioner will oversee enforcement, with platforms required to deactivate underage accounts by December 10, 2025. Officials argue that the law balances privacy with safety by avoiding mandatory ID checks, instead relying on AI-driven age assurance.
Wider Debate
- Supporters say the ban sends a strong signal about protecting children from online harms.
- Critics, including digital rights groups, warn it could be largely symbolic, difficult to enforce, and potentially infringe on young people’s rights to information and political expression.
- Legal experts have also suggested the law may face constitutional challenges in Australia’s High Court.
Outlook
With the deadline for compliance less than two months away, major platforms are under pressure to adapt. Google maintains that collaboration, education, and improved safety tools — rather than outright bans — are the key to safeguarding children online.
Whether Australia’s pioneering law becomes a model for other nations or a cautionary tale will depend on how effectively it can be implemented and whether it delivers the promised improvements in child safety.
Sources: Reuters; ABP Live [1]; Firstpost [2]; Mumbrella [3]; U.S. News [5].