Australia has become the first country in the world to impose a comprehensive ban on social media use by individuals under 16. The law — effective from December 10, 2025 — requires major platforms to block or deactivate all accounts belonging to users under 16.
Under the new regulation, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Threads, Twitch and Kick must ensure under-16 users cannot create or maintain accounts. Failure to comply could result in penalties of up to AUD 49.5 million (≈ USD 33 million).
The law, passed as the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, amends existing regulations to define “age-restricted social media platforms” and mandates that these services take “reasonable steps” to verify user age.
The government says the ban is aimed at safeguarding children from online risks — such as cyberbullying, harmful content, privacy threats, and addictive behaviour — which are considered particularly damaging during early teenage years.
Supporters of the law include child-safety advocates and mental-health experts, who argue that a strict minimum age limit — comparable to age restrictions on alcohol or driving — is needed to protect minors who may not yet have the emotional or cognitive maturity to navigate social media safely.
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