Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s Sparks Focus on Age Verification Technology

What you need to know

1. Ban Details: Australia will prohibit social media use for under-16s from November 2025.
2. Age Verification: Platforms must adopt technology to confirm user age; trials begin next year.
3. Global Relevance: Other countries monitor these developments to address child safety on social media.
4. Privacy Focus: Innovations prioritize minimal data sharing and secure verification processes.
5. Three Methods: Age verification involves official IDs, AI-based estimation, or activity-based validation.
6. Future Growth: Age verification technology is set to expand, with new methods under development globally.

Australia plans to implement a nationwide social media ban for children under 16, requiring platforms to adopt robust age verification technologies by November 2025. The law mandates "reasonable measures" to ensure age confirmation, though specifics on these measures remain undefined.

To address these ambiguities, Australia will trial various age verification technologies next year, led by the eSafety Commissioner. This effort aligns with global concerns about social media's impact on children, drawing international attention.

Key industry players like Yoti, Veriff, and Jumio are testing methods ranging from facial recognition to digital ID integration. Technologies under consideration include estimating a user's age via AI-analyzed facial patterns, verifying identity documents, and assessing behavior or activity. Privacy concerns are central, with assurance that age verification services will minimize personal data sharing.

UK-based nonprofit Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) oversees these trials and advocates global adoption of stringent age verification standards. The ACCS highlights three main verification types:

1. Age Verification: Confirming age via official ID or records.
2. Age Estimation: Using AI to approximate age based on facial or other data.
3. Behavioral Validation: Inferring age through associated activities (e.g., banking).

Amid global scrutiny, companies are innovating privacy-focused solutions, while regulators debate acceptable error margins for verification methods. As this technology gains traction, its implementation in social media and beyond is expected to expand worldwide.