In a landmark move, Australia has enacted a comprehensive ban preventing children under the age of 16 from registering new accounts or accessing existing ones on a range of popular social media services. This legislative change, effective as of Wednesday, affects ten widely used platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. The Australian government introduced this law to mitigate exposure of youths to potentially harmful online content and addictive platform algorithms, while also aiming to curb instances of cyberbullying and grooming.
The initiative occurs against the backdrop of rising rates of self-harm and suicide among Generation Z in Australia, accentuating concerns regarding the mental health impacts of excessive social media usage. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the intent behind the law, describing it as a reclaiming of control by families over the influence of large technology corporations. Albanese highlighted that it’s a move to protect a child’s right to a typical childhood while providing peace of mind for parents.
Historically, most social media platforms have set the minimum age for account creation at 13, yet enforcement has been inconsistent, leading to widespread underage use. According to data cited from Australia’s eSafety commissioner, approximately 80% of children aged between 8 and 12 were active on at least one social media platform in 2024, equating to over one million users who fall below permitted age limits. For teenagers aged 13 to 15, social media engagement spikes to roughly 95%, indicating a near-universal presence on these networks within that cohort.
Scope and Enforcement of the Ban
The prohibition specifically targets platforms whose primary function involves facilitating online social interaction. The selection of the ten platforms for inclusion was prioritized based on the number of Australian users under 16 on these services, according to eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant. The regulation mandates that children under 16 living in Australia cannot create or maintain accounts on these platforms.
While under-16 users will still be able to view content on certain platforms like YouTube without logging in, they will be barred from interactive features such as posting, commenting, or messaging. The law applies principally to users ordinarily residing in Australia and deems individuals visiting for less than 200 days within the prior year as generally exempt.
Platforms covered by the regulation are required to undertake “reasonable steps” to enforce compliance, though the law allows them discretion regarding the exact measures. Anticipated verification techniques include documentation submission to confirm age, biometric assessments such as live video selfies to estimate user age, and analysis of user behavior online. However, these methods are not foolproof; early reports indicate some underage users have circumvented restrictions, such as by manipulating biometric scans.
Notably, the responsibility and potential penalties lie with the platform operators rather than the underage users themselves. Violations of the legislation can attract hefty fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately USD 32 million).
Context and Motivations Behind Australia’s Policy
This national legislation was precipitated by prior state-level regulations and a campaign titled "Let Them Be Kids," which advocated for enhanced protections for children on social media. The campaign, backed by News Corp and a coalition of parents and child safety advocates, was propelled by testimonies linking online exposure to youth suicides and garnered more than 54,000 signatures calling for raising the minimum age to 16.
Political support for the ban was bipartisan, with former opposition leader Peter Dutton endorsing it, and it was championed by Prime Minister Albanese through his "36 months" campaign alongside radio host Wippa. The legislation passed toward the end of November 2024, drawing criticism from some quarters about its timing in relation to upcoming elections.
Government officials framed the law as a necessary framework to empower parents and preserve childhood, counteracting the manipulative nature of social media algorithms and deceptive online practices. Evidence presented highlighted weekly incidents of deepfake image abuse in schools and concerns over screen addiction and extended digital engagement.
Industry Responses to the Ban
Several affected platforms have publicly criticized the law, arguing it restricts open access to information and raises privacy concerns. Reddit, for example, stressed that it values free expression and community building while emphasizing that limiting account eligibility and enforcing identity verification undermines user rights. Many platforms asserted they already maintain safety features designed to protect younger users.
Nonetheless, all involved services have started adapting to the new requirements. Reddit is implementing a privacy-focused approach to predict users’ ages and encourage voluntary verification, along with a safer version of its platform for users under 18 globally. Meta platforms began deactivating or suspending under-16 accounts in early December, preserving data for possible reactivation at 16. Snapchat and TikTok are similarly deactivating or suspending accounts, with TikTok employing age verification technology that evaluates user activity beyond provided credentials.
YouTube is signing users under 16 out automatically and hiding associated channels, while Twitch and Kick have announced staged rollouts of account restrictions and age verification mechanisms. X, despite initial opposition based on free speech grounds, committed to compliance through a multifaceted approach combining self-attestation and identity verification, pledging timely data deletion.
Public and User Reactions
Surveys show robust public support within Australia for the ban, with 77% favorability reported at the time of enactment. However, the measure remains contentious among some groups who fear it disproportionately impacts marginalized youth, including those in remote regions, non-native English speakers, or members of the LGBTQ+ community. These users may experience loss of supportive online peer interactions, posing risks to mental well-being and access to information.
Privacy concerns also persist around the modalities of age verification, particularly regarding the use of personal identification and biometric data. A government-commissioned trial found age assurance technologies to be effective and protective of privacy, countering industry critiques.
Critics have raised issues related to platforms not covered by the ban, such as 4Chan, which remain accessible but are associated with less moderated content. There is apprehension that youth might migrate to smaller or niche platforms with fewer safeguards.
This transition appears underway, with alternative apps like Lemon8 and Yope gaining popularity among Australian youth following the ban. The eSafety commissioner has flagged these services for compliance monitoring. It is anticipated that some users might resort to VPNs to evade restrictions, though government officials remain confident in platform capabilities to limit such circumvention.
Global Influence and Comparative Measures
Australia’s comprehensive social media age ban is the first of its kind but has spurred interest internationally. Several countries are evaluating or have started implementing similar restrictions on youth social media usage. In New Zealand, a comparable age-based ban has been proposed, while Malaysia and Indonesia are moving towards raising minimum age limits. Singapore and a town in Japan are experimenting with measures to reduce youth screen time.
European nations such as Denmark, Italy, France, and Germany have introduced or are considering regulations requiring parental consent for younger users, alongside proposed bans targeting specific age groups. In the United States, some states have enacted related consent laws.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Australia’s pioneering approach to youth online safety, recognizing the challenges and persistence inherent in such legislative endeavors.