The Morning Edition What happens when social media goes ‘dark’ for Australian teens
Dec 8, 2025
Bronte Gosling, a tech and policy reporter for The Age/SMH, dives into the implications of Australia's social media ban for teens. She reveals how platforms will be handling account suspensions and the challenges of enforcing compliance. Gosling discusses the various methods kids might use to bypass restrictions and the responsibility of tech companies versus parents. With a focus on age verification methods, she highlights the potential legal challenges ahead and what success might look like.
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Teen Shows Suspension And ID Appeal
- Ariel, a 13-year-old from Sydney, had her Instagram account suspended and was only offered options to download her data or appeal.
- The appeal process asked for a photo of government ID and promised deletion of the ID copy within 30 days.
Platforms Face A Range Of Age Checks
- Platforms must implement reasonable steps by Dec 10 to stop under-16s creating or using accounts.
- Methods range from behavioral checks to facial scans, bank verification or government ID depending on platform.
Not All Apps Are Included Equally
- The ban covers many major services but not everything parents expect; notably Roblox and WhatsApp are excluded.
- YouTube, X, Reddit and others have pushed back or been less transparent about how they'll comply.