A new government law requires social media platforms, including TikTok, to significantly change how they operate in Australia. Today, we're sharing more information about how we are meeting our legislative obligations.
From 10 December, Australians between the ages of 13 and 15 will no longer be able to have, or create, an account on TikTok. Teens with an existing account will be notified that they will no longer be able to use their existing account, which will become inactive. If they previously published content, it will no longer be available for others to view on TikTok.
These teens will be provided with options to:
- Preserve their memories by downloading their information.
- Confirm that they are 16 or older.
- Delete their account.
- Be reminded when they become eligible, at age 16, to use their account again (as long as they did not delete their account).
Enforcing our age policies in Australia
For more than a decade, many organisations and companies have tried to solve the complex challenge of online age assurance. Despite these efforts, and as recognised by eSafety, there is still no single method that can be used to effectively confirm a person's age in a way that also preserves their privacy.
Today, we already use a multi-layered approach that combines technology and human moderation to detect accounts used by teens who may not have provided their correct date of birth. Every day, we suspend thousands of accounts globally because we don't think our age requirements have been met.
If we believe a teen under 16 is using a TikTok account, we will remove their access. If they disagree with our decision, they can submit an appeal to confirm their age.
We offer a range of methods for doing so, including:
- Facial age estimation provided by Yoti.
- Credit card authorisation.
- Providing government-approved identification.
If someone uses an appeal method that relies on an external partner, like facial age estimation, we only receive the age estimate. Where information is shared with us directly, we use it to confirm someone is the age they've said they are. As soon as the appeal is complete, we start the process of deleting the information.
We also encourage parents to have conversations with their teens to make sure they have been truthful about their age. If an Australian parent believes their teen may have provided an incorrect date of birth, they can report this in-app and online.
We understand that these changes may be upsetting, but they are necessary to ensure that TikTok complies with Australian law. Families can learn more about their options at our Help Center and Safety Center, or visit eSafety's social media age restrictions hub.