A global movement is underway to curb social media use among adolescents, with **Australia**, **Canada**, and the **UK** leading the charge by proposing or enacting laws to ban access for individuals under 16. In the United States, while no federal mandate exists, states like **California** and **New York** are pursuing similar age assurance legislation. Platforms such as **TikTok**, **Facebook**, **Instagram**, **Snapchat**, and **YouTube** are directly impacted, with UK restrictions even extending to gaming sites. Supporters of these bans point to substantial mental health risks, the addictive nature of 'doom-scrolling,' and general safety concerns. The **US Department of Health and Human Services** reported in 2023 that minors spending over three hours daily on social media face double the risk of mental health problems. **UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer** recently criticized tech giants for failing to protect children, stating, "Tech giants had their chance and failed." ### The Compliance Conundrum Despite a growing consensus on the need for restrictions, privacy and implementation challenges are significant. The generation these laws aim to protect is digitally native, resourceful, and often adept at bypassing controls. **Joe Kaufmann**, Global Head of Privacy and Data Protection Officer at **Jumio**, highlights the delicate balance companies must strike: "Companies will have trouble finding a balance between creating a positive user experience for those who should be on their platforms while addressing the legal requirements." Verifying age without alienating legitimate users or collecting excessive sensitive data is a complex task. Kaufmann notes that past attempts at age verification have often met with user discomfort or outright failure. **Australia**, for instance, has recently doubled fines for non-compliant companies, underscoring the seriousness of enforcement. ### Retaining Users While Following the Law **Australia's Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024**, which sets the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) at 16, is slated for full effect by December 2025. However, updates from the **eSafety Commissioner** have already revealed compliance concerns. One platform attempting age verification for users who had declared themselves under 16 inadvertently highlighted the ease with which children might falsify information. Concerns about the accuracy of facial age estimation technology were also raised. Companies face a dual challenge: retaining legitimate users and avoiding disruption, while also complying with strict age verification laws. The collection of sensitive data, such as driver's licenses or credit card numbers, for age verification purposes, presents a significant privacy hurdle. Many companies are reluctant to collect such data but are now compelled by the threat of severe penalties, such as Australia's **$99 million maximum fine** for SMMA breaches. Kaufmann emphasizes the tension: "It's a really fine line to walk about how you're approaching what data you're collecting, what you're using to verify, and what you're retaining to evidence compliance." ### Why Are Bans Becoming More Prevalent? Australia's approach is setting a precedent, offering valuable insights into what works and what doesn't. Kaufmann believes regulators still need to provide clearer, more practical guidelines that align with current market realities and user comfort levels. **Richard Bird**, Chief Strategy and Chief Security Officer at **Singulr AI**, asserts that these regulations are a consequence of social media platforms' decade-long failure to self-regulate. "Social media platforms have refused to make meaningful progress on protecting children," Bird states. "It's a faulty product causing real human damage. When a product causes that kind of damage, regulation follows." Bird argues that the core issue isn't merely children having accounts, but the addictive design of these platforms. He views these "bans" not as novel ideas, but as age controls akin to those for driving or voting, simply applied to a newer medium. "The mechanics are still being worked out, and, yes, kids are bypassing the weak controls in place today. None of that is an argument for quitting. It's only an argument that we've decided the digital world is special — and it isn't." ### Top Compliance Recommendations As more countries and US states consider individual regulations, compliance challenges will intensify. The **Kids Off Social Media Act**, introduced in 2025 by **US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)**, which proposes banning accounts for children under 13, is currently working its way through Congress. Kaufmann suggests that companies might opt for a universal approach to social media restrictions to simplify compliance across diverse legislative landscapes. Meanwhile, technology companies and vendors are developing more effective, privacy-centric enforcement solutions. **Apple**, for example, continues to develop its age API, aiming to minimize data collection while ensuring compliance.