Australia’s social media ban for under-16s takes effect
Australia’s social media ban for under-16s took effect on December 10, 2025, requiring platforms to deactivate existing accounts for users under 16 and block new ones until they turn 16.
The law targets major services including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, Twitch, X, and Kick, with potential expansion to others. Meta began deactivating around 500,000 under-16 accounts on Instagram and Facebook starting December 4, ahead of the deadline.
Platforms must demonstrate “reasonable measures” like age verification to comply, monitored by the eSafety commissioner using a graduated enforcement approach. Non-compliance risks fines up to AUD 49.5 million, but no penalties apply to children or parents. Affected users can often download data, archive content, or appeal misclassifications before accounts are locked or deleted.
Enacted via the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, the policy aims to shield children from online risks like excessive screen time and harmful content. It impacts roughly 440,000 Australian users aged 13-15 initially.
