Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s is due to come into effect this week. From 10 December, any account belonging to a user under the age of 16 must be deactivated, and platforms must prevent new sign-ups from this age group. This rule applies to all government-flagged services, including Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, X, Reddit, Threads, Kick and any new platforms created to circumvent the law.
Companies that fail to demonstrate adequate efforts to block underage access face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, explained that the decision stemmed from the notion that we should behave online as we do ‘offline. Would we let young people into strip clubs or bars, or allow them to buy alcohol or cigarettes? What norms do we want online?’
Platforms such as Roblox, Pinterest, YouTube Kids, Discord, WhatsApp, GitHub, LEGO Play, Steam, Google Classroom, Messenger and LinkedIn are not subject to the ban as they are deemed to pose a lower risk. X and Bluesky were deemed ‘very low risk’ due to their small Australian user base. This list may evolve if children migrate to the exempt platforms.
@sbsnews_au Australia's world-leading restrictions on social media kick in on 10 December, with children set to be booted from platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok. Communications Minister Anika Wells says the government will forcefully defend the ban, and that every parent she's spoken to has thanked her "for being the bad guy". Read the latest here @sbsnews_au ♬ original sound – SBS News
How will platforms verify age?
Students have raised concerns about losing access to photos and messages, and about whether lying about their age would help.
Verification will be left to the platforms, who will use IDs, behavioural signals or a combination of methods. Meta declined to specify its approach, arguing that disclosure might help teenagers to evade detection.
Instagram and Facebook are offering teenagers the option to ‘freeze’ their accounts until they turn 16. TikTok and Snapchat have similar solutions. Around 440,000 Australian Snapchat accounts are expected to be affected.
However, mistakes are inevitable, and users over 16 will be able to appeal decisions by providing ID and submitting a video selfie or any other measure decided by the platform.
On the eve of Australia’s under-16 social media ban, PM Anthony Albanese says the law is meant to “support” teens, urging them to swap “endless” scrolling for sport, music and real-world time with friends and family, according to @AFP https://t.co/4zvOwmTSCY pic.twitter.com/6tDncmbXnv
— Newsroom ZA (@NewsroomZA) December 9, 2025
Children, parents and political pushback
The ban has already sparked debate in the political arena, with some children and teenagers, including young influencers with “business accounts”, opposed to the measure. Others have embraced the change. Fourteen-year-old Maxine told CNN that she and her friends stopped using their phones a year ago in anticipation of the measure, saying, “Everyone’s forgotten about social media. It’s the most vivid and animated environment I’ve ever been in”.
A legal challenge from libertarian John Ruddick, who argued that the ban breached freedom of political communication, was rejected.
The government has taken a pragmatic stance, noting that “some platforms will do this more quickly and effectively than others… We’ll be watching closely and taking an outcomes-based approach.”
Children will not be penalised for trying to bypass the ban, but experts acknowledge that circumvention will occur through VPNs, parents’ accounts or even face-altering filters.
Australia's social media ban for under-16s has raised concerns among young people about isolation, especially for marginalized groups, as the government aims to improve youth mental health https://t.co/p8VHeTojNV pic.twitter.com/QfrN9ZcuFA
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 8, 2025
A global test case
The measure is being watched closely abroad at a time when evidence of the health impacts of early smartphone use is increasing. A recent US study shows that over 60% of children aged 11–12 now own a smartphone, up from around 45% a few years ago. Potential risks include depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep.
The European Union has just adopted a non-legislative report urging stronger protection for minors online and stricter safeguards against addictive and manipulative design.
In an interview with AnewZ, Antonio Buscardini, president of the Press Club Brussels Europe, says he sees the Australian ban as directly relevant to European concerns. He highlights “a rare consensus” in the European Parliament vote, describing it as “a political sign that parents, schools, and society are calling for regulation”. He believes that the issue is “not about banning, but about regulating access, maintaining parental controls and setting clear limits”. He argues that such regulation will require real cooperation between parents and schools.
As Australia becomes the first country to implement a full ban on social media for under-16s, the world will be watching to see how families, social media platforms and schools adapt, and what lessons others might draw from it.
