Learn about Australia’s world-first social media ban for under 16s.
From the 10th December 2025, children under the age of 16 in Australia will be unable to have social media accounts. Preventing them from having accounts is the responsibility of social media companies, who could faces fines up to $50 million if the restriction is not enforced. Children and their families will not face any penalties or fines if they do gain access. All existing accounts for under 16s in Australia must also be deactivated by platforms. 1
It is unclear how platforms will choose to verify the ages of users. However, we have seen Ofcom enforce platforms to comply with age checks in the UK, so we could assume that similar age verification methods will be used. The law in Australia specifies that social media companies can ask users to provide their government ID to verify their age but that this must not be a requirement – alternative methods of verification must also be available. 1
What platforms are included in the ban?
Social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and Reddit are subject to the ban. YouTube is also restricted. Under 16s will be allowed to access YouTube but not create their own account. They also won’t be able to watch age-restricted videos or access features that can only be done with an account, such as uploading or commenting on videos. YouTube kids will be exempt, as accounts cannot upload content or comment on videos. Some messaging apps, including Messenger Kids and WhatsApp, are excluded from the ban. 1
In the Australian Government’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 – Fact sheet, it lists the factors that will determine if a platform will be an ‘age-restricted social media platform’. These are as follows:
- the sole purpose, or a significant purpose, of the service is to enable online social interaction between 2 or more end‐users,
- the service allows end‐users to link to, or interact with, some or all of the other end‐users,
- the service allows end‐users to post material on the service,
- it meets such other conditions (if any) as are set out in the legislative rules. 2
Why is the ban being introduced?
The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, explains that, “Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms, so I’m calling time on it…Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
He has also shared that he plans to advocate for this ban ‘on a global stage’, when he attends the United Nationals General Assembly in September and will be discussing the issue with New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, ‘in a couple of weeks’. 3
“This is our position, it is up to other nations what they do, but I know from the discussions I have had with other leaders that they are looking at this and they are considering what impact social media is having on young people in their respective nations and it is a common experience. This is not an Australian experience.” 3
The ban is already being reviewed by other countries, with Norway proposing a new law to ban social media for children under 15, due to concerns around the negative impact on ‘sleep, mental health, learning and concentration.’ Alongside this proposed ban, Norway will also raise the GDPR age of consent for processing data to the same age of 15 years. 4 And according to this BBC article, the UK is also ‘considering following suit’. 5
What do you think of Australia’s social media ban for under 16s?
Take a look at the resources below to learn more, and let us know your thoughts on social media!
References
- Steedman, E. (2025) ‘How will the federal government’s under-16s social media ban work? Here’s what we know’. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-30/teen-social-media-ban-explained/105590990 (Accessed: 31 July 2025)
- Australian Government, Department for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts (2024) ‘Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 – Fact sheet’. Available at: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/social-media-minimum-age-and-age-assurance-trial-fact-sheet.pdf (Accessed: 31 July 2025)
- Olbrycht-Palmer, J and Wang, J (2025) ‘Anthony Albanese says he will ‘advocate’ for social media ban on global stage’. Available at: https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/youtube-to-be-captured-by-social-media-ban/news-story/bf4dcc8fc45cd0bc09b69d7733461287 (Accessed: 31 July 2025)
- GDPR Buzz (2025) ‘Norway Proposes Law to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15’. Available at: https://gdprbuzz.com/news/norway-proposes-law-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-15/ (Accessed: 31 July 2025)
- Lam, L (2025) ‘YouTube to be included in Australia’s teen social media ban’. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpv0zkxx0njo (Accessed: 31 July 2025)
