TikTok urges young users to download content just days out from Australia’s social media ban

TikTok has urged young users to download their content just days out from Australia’s social media ban coming into effect on December 10.

The video sharing app on Friday became the latest platform to release details of how it plans to comply with the world-first legislation.

But unlike others, TikTok has offered unique ways for users to appeal wrongful account deactivations, including through a credit card authorisation that incurs a temporary charge.

In a statement, a spokesman said TikTok’s “multi-layered approach” of both technology and human moderation would help detect accounts used by teens who have lied about their date of birth to circumvent the age limit.

“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,” he said in the statement.

Users aged over 16 who have been wrongfully booted off the app will have multiple options to appeal the deactivation.

While it will include a facial age estimation assessment through safety tech firm Yoti and uploading a government-issued ID, appeal pathways also include getting a parent to vouch for you or uploading credit card details.

If a user over 18 needs to appeal, they will be able to upload their own credit card details.

“A small and temporary charge will be made to authenticate your credit card. You’ll receive a refund for any charges incurred,” their official website stated.

For parents or guardians who want to help be part of the appeals process, they too will be able to use credit card authorisation as an option.

An alternative option for parents is to take and upload a photo with their child while holding up a piece of paper with proof of age, a data of birth and unique code sent through the appeal process.

Under this option, if a parent or guardian isn’t available, users can ask a trusted adult aged over 25 “such as your grandparent, teacher, aunt, or uncle” to take the selfie with them.

The confirmation that it will comply with the ban on Friday means TikTok will now join Snapchat, Meta, Kick, and YouTube in confirming how they plan to do so.

Reddit, Twitch, and X are still yet to publicly disclose their position.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told a senate estimates hearing this week that Elon Musk’s X had privately flagged with her office that it was looking to use Grok, a generative AI chatbot, to perform age assessments. Upon disclosing it to the Senators, Ms Inman Grant had let out a laugh.

While there’s still five days to go, Meta has already begun removing young users from its Facebook, Instagram, and Threads platforms.