Starting 10 December 2025, Australia will make it illegal for anyone under 16 to hold social media accounts on major platforms, such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook, even if they sign up before the law begins or have parental consent.
The onus to prevent under‑16 users lie entirely with the platforms, not the families.
No penalties for young users or parents
Under the new law, children and their parents won’t be penalized for circumventing the ban.
Instead, tech companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to stop under‑16 users will face hefty fines up to AUD 49.5 million per breach.
Technical hurdles: age checking in focus
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has emphasized that implementing reliable age-verification tools is essential but remains a work in progress. Options under consideration include:
- AI-powered systems (e.g., hand-sign recognition)
- Digital ID solutions
- Facial recognition
However, privacy concerns especially around government ID use remain unresolved.
“Social media delay,” not a shutdown
Grant prefers calling it a “social media delay” rather than a ban. This reflects a flexible approach aimed at stripping addictive features from youths’ feeds, while retaining safe access to messaging and educational platforms.
Should YouTube be included?
Under debate is YouTube’s exemption. Initially excluded for its educational role, Grant now argues that 40% of harmful content exposures among 10–15-year-olds happen on YouTube.
She recommends dropping the exemption, pressuring the Communications Minister to review YouTube’s status before December 2025.
YouTube defends itself, citing surveys that show 84% of teachers use YouTube monthly in classrooms.
Complementary regulations on harmful content
Grant also confirmed her intention to register three new industry codes—covering pornography, violent imagery, and self-harm content. These apply across platforms (including gaming, messaging, app stores) and will be enforced if voluntary codes fall short.
Why now?
Research shows:
- 80% of 8-12-year-olds are already on social media
- 95% of under‑16s use at least one platform
- Most bypass age checks by simply falsifying their birthdate
The government sees this measure as a way to shift protective responsibility away from families and onto powerful tech firms.
