Australia is set to become the first country to ban social media accounts for people under 16, with the law taking effect on December 10, 2025. Platforms will have to block or delete under-16 profiles or face fines of up to 32 million dollars. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 aims to protect young people from bullying, mental health issues, body image pressures, and exploitation. Parents will not be allowed to give consent to bypass the rule, highlighting strict enforcement.
Major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Twitch, Kick, and Reddit are labeled “age-restricted social media platforms.” They must use tools like AI age checks, behavioral analytics, or ID verification to confirm users’ ages. Meta will start closing accounts of users under 16 on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads from December 4, while still letting them download their data. Snapchat will allow accounts to be put on hold for up to three years, and TikTok will let users deactivate accounts and save their content.
The eSafety Commissioner will monitor compliance and demand “reasonable steps,” including facial scans or regular audits. Platforms will also need to delete data belonging to confirmed underage users. Teens may try to dodge the rules by lying about their age or using VPNs, but critics warn this could raise privacy concerns, curb free speech, and push them toward unregulated spaces. Two 15-year-olds have already taken the case to Australia’s High Court, arguing the ban violates their rights, while many teens feel torn between losing online connections and gaining safety.
