How Apple is Helping Apps Comply With Australia's Social Media Ban for Kids

Source: MacRumors

Australia’s new social media law goes into effect on December 10, 2025, and ahead of that date, Apple is sharing information on developer tools that are designed to help social media apps adhere to the law.

Children under the age of 16 will no longer be allowed to use Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms unless the services can verify a user’s age and provide parental controls that meet the Australian government’s requirements. Apple’s guidance outlines how developers can integrate Apple’s App Store Connect age‑verification APIs, use Sign in with Apple for secure identity checks, and implement Screen Time restrictions to enforce usage limits.

Key points from Apple’s developer brief include:

• Age verification: Use the SKAdNetwork‑based verification flow to confirm a user is 16 or older before granting access to the app’s core features.
• Parental consent: Implement a consent screen that leverages Apple’s Family Sharing framework, allowing parents to approve or deny access from their own devices.
• Usage limits: Integrate with the Screen Time API so that apps can respect device‑wide limits set by parents, automatically disabling the app when the limit is reached.
• Data privacy: Ensure that any age‑related data is stored in compliance with Apple’s App Privacy labels and the Australian Privacy Act.

Apple also notes that apps failing to meet these requirements may be removed from the App Store in Australia, and that developers should submit updated builds well before the December 10 deadline to avoid disruption.

For more details, developers can refer to Apple’s official Developer Documentation on age‑gating and parental controls, as well as the Australian Online Safety Act guidelines.