Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from social media. Here’s how the law works, which platforms it covers, and what has happened since it started.
Australia’s social media minimum age law requires certain social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts. It took effect on 10 December 2025, making Australia the first country in the world to introduce such a ban.
The law was passed by Parliament in November 2024 with support from both major parties. The Government said it was designed to protect children from harms such as cyberbullying, harmful content and addictive design.
Who is covered
The platforms initially covered include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Reddit, Kick and Twitch.
Some services are exempt, including messaging apps, online gaming, and services used mainly for education or health. Children can still watch YouTube videos without logging in.
How it works
The responsibility sits with the platforms, not with children or parents. There are no penalties for children who get around the rules, or for parents who let them.
Platforms must take reasonable steps to find and remove existing accounts held by under-16s and stop new ones being created. They can use a range of age assurance methods, such as estimating age from facial scans or analysing behaviour on the platform. They can’t require people to use government ID as the only option.
Companies that fail to comply face fines that can run to tens of millions of dollars.
What’s happened
The Government says more than five million accounts belonging to under-16s have been removed, deactivated or restricted.
But surveys and research suggest many teenagers are still using the platforms, often by passing age checks, using older people’s accounts, or using services not covered by the ban.
The eSafety Commissioner opened formal investigations into Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube in 2026, and in October 2026 the Government said it was preparing court action against those platforms over concerns about their compliance.
Legal challenges
The law faces two High Court challenges. One, backed by a group called the Digital Freedom Project, argues it breaches the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution. Reddit has also challenged the law and its designation as a covered platform. A hearing was scheduled for November 2026.
The debate
Supporters, including many parents and child safety advocates, say the ban helps reset social norms and gives families support in setting limits.
Critics, including some young people, mental health groups and digital rights advocates, argue it cuts teenagers off from friends and support networks, pushes them to less safe corners of the internet, and raises privacy concerns because everyone may need to verify their age.
Governments in other countries, including in Europe and Asia, are watching closely and some are considering similar laws.
