Australia, the first country to pass a law banning social media access for users under 16, is testing facial recognition technology to enforce the restriction ahead of its scheduled implementation in December 2025.
The trial, which involved teenage volunteers, used selfie-based age-verification software and found the tool largely accurate. However, some teens noted that the system could be easily bypassed using photos of older siblings or friends.
Under the new law, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat will be required to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services. Noncompliance could result in fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million).
The Australian government plans to release findings from the trial and set accuracy benchmarks by late July. The initiative is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age restrictions.