TikTok Kids Ban: What Parents Need to Know
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European Union Tightens Social Media Access for Minors
New regulations require age verification for popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram,mirroring similar efforts globally.
Published: October 3, 2025, 12:30:00 PM PDT
The new EU Regulations
The European Union is implementing stricter rules to protect children online, requiring social media platforms to verify the age of their users. as of February 17,2024,the Digital Services Act (DSA) mandates that platforms must make ”reasonable efforts” to verify users’ ages,with a particular focus on protecting those under 16.The Digital Services Act aims to create a safer digital space for all users, but its provisions regarding age verification are particularly impactful for young people.
Currently, platforms like TikTok and Instagram are employing age-estimation technology and requiring users to provide a date of birth. However, thes methods are not foolproof, and concerns remain about users providing false data. The EU is also pushing for device-level age verification, working with major tech companies to integrate these features directly into smartphones and tablets. This approach aims to provide a more robust and reliable system for confirming user ages.
Despite these efforts, loopholes persist. TikTok videos and Instagram Reels remain accessible through internet search engines and third-party applications without requiring a user account, perhaps circumventing the age verification measures.
Global Response: Australia and the United States
The EU’s move is not isolated. Australia is taking a different approach, beginning to block access to TikTok, Facebook, instagram, and youtube for users under 16 starting December 10, 2024. Australia’s Online Safety Amendment relies on in-app verification provided by the platforms themselves, a contrast to the device-level enforcement in the EU.
| Country | Approach | Platforms Affected | implementation Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | device-level and in-app age verification | TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and others | February 17, 2024 (ongoing) |
| Australia | In-app age verification and access blocking | TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, youtube | December 10, 2024 |
| United States | State-level laws requiring parental consent and age verification | Varies by state | Ongoing (various dates) |
In the United States, there is no federal ban on social media for minors, but several states have enacted laws regulating teen access. These laws generally require parental consent and mandatory age verification. Such as, Utah passed HB 0003 in 2023, requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.