• Platforms sought no age proof for any of 50 test accounts declaring age 16, researchers said
  • Regulator says layered checks remain sufficient if platforms implement them correctly
  • Advisers say original trial overlooked false birthdate circumvention by under-16 users

Australia's online platforms are stumbling at the very first step in implementing age checks for users, rendering a world-first teen social media ban ineffective, a ​study by a team that advised the government's rollout of the curbs found.

Since December, Australia's new social media law has mandated that platforms including Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube ‌bar people under 16 years from having accounts. Operators must take "reasonable steps" to comply, and the government has recommended using multiple checks to determine users' age.