Australia Imposes Historic Under‑16 Social Media Ban

Australia is preparing to enforce a groundbreaking law banning children under 16 from holding social media accounts, starting 10 December 2025. Platforms will be required to block the creation of new accounts for minors and deactivate existing ones, or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.

From early December, a wide range of platforms—including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, X, and Reddit—must comply with the new rules. These regulations stem from updates to the [[Online Safety Act|Online Safety Act]], which empowers authorities to designate “age-restricted” services and hold companies accountable for enforcing the law.

Under this mandate, companies are expected to identify users under 16 and remove or block their accounts. While compliance is mandatory, the law emphasizes that platforms should use “reasonable steps” rather than invasive measures, allowing approaches such as behavioral analysis or optional identification checks.

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According to the [[eSafety Commissioner|eSafety Commissioner]], all actions should be conducted in a safe and supportive manner for young users.

Children themselves will not face penalties if they bypass these restrictions; the responsibility rests entirely on the platforms. Additionally, affected users will be given the opportunity to download or export their personal data before accounts are deactivated.

Critics have raised concerns that strict enforcement may push minors toward less-regulated corners of the internet. Companies note that while age restrictions can reduce exposure, they cannot entirely eliminate risk. Tools such as [[Age verification|Age verification]] may help platforms confirm age while safeguarding privacy, but the effectiveness of these technologies varies.

This initiative makes Australia one of the first countries to legislate a clear minimum age for social media use, potentially serving as a model for global digital safety policies. Experts worldwide are closely monitoring the rollout, recognizing both the opportunities and challenges in protecting children online while balancing privacy concerns.