Australia is preparing to roll out a social media ban for children under 16, with major platforms facing strict new requirements to block underage users. The new laws, starting December 10, will require apps to use a layered age-verification approach to prevent minors from creating or keeping accounts.
Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that platforms will face financial penalties of up to $49.5 million if they fail to comply.
What the new laws mean?
Under the new rules, social media companies must:
- Detect and deactivate underage accounts currently active on their platforms.
- Prevent children under 16 from re-registering, using multiple verification layers instead of simple self-declaration.
- Offer alternative verification methods, instead of relying solely on birthdate entry.
- Provide accessible review processes for users who dispute decisions or face errors.
- Continuously monitor and improve systems to reduce error rates and protect legitimate users.
The government stresses that a layered approach is essential to reduce mistakes, improve accuracy and give families confidence that the ban is being enforced.
What age-verification methods will be allowed?
The law does not force platforms to adopt a single method, but it does set boundaries.
- Apps cannot rely on self-declared ages where users simply enter their date of birth.
- Platforms are explicitly banned from using government-issued ID alone as proof of age. However, ID may be used if it is part of a broader verification system.
- Companies must give users options, such as biometric checks, third-party verification, or other privacy-safe tools.
Importantly, apps are not allowed to push under-16s onto alternative child-specific apps unless the young user consents.
Oversight and penalties
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner will oversee compliance and require platforms to disclose key statistics to both regulators and the public. If companies fail to enforce the rules, they face penalties of up to $49.5 million.
The government says this is a necessary step to protect children from online harms, while balancing privacy rights with safety obligations.
What this means for social media users?
From December 10, children under 16 will no longer be able to legally maintain social media accounts in Australia. Parents should expect stricter verification measures when setting up or managing accounts for teens.
For platforms, the social media ban for under 16s represents a major compliance challenge, with risks of fines and reputational damage if they do not act swiftly.
