Apple leans into age checks as Australia’s teen social media ban goes live, putting the App Store in the middle of a political fight over kids, tech, and compliance.
The App Store ends up acting as an intermediary layer
The App Store ends up acting as an intermediary layer
Australia’s new social media law takes effect on December 10 and it targets the apps, not the devices. The law requires major social platforms to prevent anyone under 16 from holding an account, and to deactivate existing under-age accounts.
The eSafety Commissioner can issue fines in the tens of millions of dollars for violations. Regulators expect platforms to rely on age-assurance tools and behavioral signals instead of mandatory ID scans.