According to 9to5Mac, a new Australian law will prohibit anyone under the age of 16 from having a social media account, with the rule taking effect in less than two days on December 10. This means existing accounts for users under 16 must be deactivated, and no new ones can be created. In preparation, Apple has published a post in its developer newsroom, stating that while impacted developers are responsible for compliance, it offers tools to help. The company is pointing developers to resources like the Declared Age Range documentation and the age rating settings in App Store Connect. Apple’s move is a preemptive step to guide app makers through the logistical hurdles of the impending ban.
Apple’s Hands-Off Compliance Push
Here’s the thing: Apple’s post is classic Apple. It’s a helpful nudge, but it’s also a very clear distancing of liability. The language is basically, “Hey, this is the law, you have to follow it, but here are some tools we already built that might be useful.” They’re highlighting existing frameworks like age ratings and the ability to declare an app’s target age range—features that have been around for parental controls and regional restrictions. It’s smart. They’re not building anything new; they’re just reminding everyone the toolbox exists. And by publishing this now, they can say they did their part to inform developers, shifting the operational burden entirely onto the app companies themselves. It’s a very corporate way of saying, “Not our problem, but good luck!”
The Impossible Enforcement Question
But let’s be real. How on earth is this supposed to be enforced? Social media companies have struggled for years to accurately age-gate users who can just lie during sign-up. Is Australia expecting a mass account purge based on birthdates entered years ago? The law, Bill r7284, puts the onus on the platforms, which likely means a scramble for more aggressive age verification tech. That’s a privacy minefield. For users, it’s going to be a mess of locked accounts and frustrated teens. And for parents? I guess it offers a blunt tool, but it seems like it will just push kids towards platforms with weaker controls or towards using false information. The intent might be protection, but the practical outcome feels chaotic and half-baked.
Broader Ripples for Developers
So what does this mean for developers, especially smaller ones? A new compliance headache, that’s what. Any app with social features or community elements that’s available in Australia now has to re-evaluate its age gates. It’s not just the giant Meta or TikTok; it’s every gaming app with friends lists, every forum, every niche community platform. They’ll need to log into App Store Connect, review their product page settings, and potentially re-submit apps. For global apps, it means managing another piece of regional regulatory complexity. This kind of law can have a chilling effect, potentially discouraging developers from including social features at all for younger audiences. It adds friction and cost in a market that’s already incredibly complex to navigate.
