Representational image of teens (boys and girls) using social media on their mobile phones. Image generated with Meta AI image generator by RMN News Service.

Global Tech Shift: Australia Enacts World-First Under-16 Social Media Ban as OpenAI Launches AI-Driven Age Prediction

Both government officials and tech leaders acknowledge that while these measures represent a significant milestone, the work to protect teen well-being remains ongoing.

RMN Digital Social Media Desk
New Delhi | January 21, 2026

In a landmark move to prioritize child safety in the digital age, Australia is proceeding with a world-first ban that prevents individuals under the age of 16 from accessing social media. This legislative action coincides with major technological shifts from industry leaders, including OpenAI, which has begun rolling out sophisticated age-prediction models to safeguard younger users on its platforms.

Australia Places Enforcement Burden on Tech Giants

The new Australian law targeting the “digital frontier” places the direct responsibility for enforcing age limits on the platforms themselves. The legislation affects a wide range of major services, including Meta’s platforms (Instagram and Facebook), YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch.

The decision follows a government-backed Age Assurance Technology Trial, which concluded that there are “no significant technological barriers” to implementing robust age checks. During the trial, which involved over 50 companies including Apple Inc. and Google, several methods were explored to verify user ages, such as:

Facial scans and age verification techniques.
Inferring age based on behavioral patterns.
Enhanced parental controls.

While the trial noted that teenagers may attempt to bypass these checks and that no single “ubiquitous solution” currently exists, the findings suggest that integrated private age checks are technologically feasible for existing services.

OpenAI Deploys Behavioral Age Prediction

Simultaneously, OpenAI has announced the rollout of age prediction on ChatGPT consumer plans. This initiative is designed to identify accounts likely belonging to users under the age of 18 so that specific safeguards and “the right experience” can be applied.

Rather than relying solely on a user’s stated age, the ChatGPT age-prediction model analyzes a combination of account-level and behavioral signals, including:

Usage patterns over time.
The typical times of day a user is active.
The longevity of the account.

OpenAI’s approach is rooted in the science of child development, acknowledging that teens differ from adults in risk perception, impulse control, and emotional regulation. For users who are incorrectly flagged as being under 18, a “fast, simple way” to restore full access is available through Persona, a secure identity-verification service that utilizes selfie-based checks.

Enhanced Protections and Parental Oversight

For accounts identified as belonging to minors, ChatGPT now automatically applies protections to reduce exposure to sensitive or harmful content. This includes restrictions on:

Graphic violence, gore, and depictions of self-harm.
Viral challenges that encourage risky behavior.
Sexual, romantic, or violent role play.
Content promoting unhealthy dieting or extreme beauty standards.

Furthermore, OpenAI has introduced customizable parental controls. Parents can now set “quiet hours” to prevent late-night usage, control features like “memory” or model training, and opt to receive notifications if the AI detects signs of acute distress in the teen’s interactions.

The Path Ahead

While Australia leads the way with national legislation, the tech industry is preparing for broader international requirements. OpenAI has confirmed that its age-prediction tools will roll out in the European Union in the coming weeks to meet regional regulatory demands.

Both government officials and tech leaders acknowledge that while these measures represent a significant milestone, the work to protect teen well-being remains ongoing. As these technologies evolve, companies remain focused on addressing attempts by younger users to bypass safeguards while refining the accuracy of their predictive models.