Australia has begun enforcing a pioneering nationwide ban on social media use by individuals under age 16, making it the first country to roll out such a restriction amid concerns over youth mental health, safety and online harms, according to government and industry reporting.
Under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which took effect December 10, 2025, social media platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. Failure to comply could expose companies to civil penalties up to AUD 49.5 million (about US $33 million) per violation, regulators say.
The law applies to at least 10 major social platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, YouTube, Threads and Twitch, which have been designated as age-restricted services required to block under-16 accounts. Authorities will monitor compliance and can add additional services to the list if needed.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells have emphasised that the reform is aimed at protecting young Australians from the potential harms of social media, including addictive design, cyberbullying and exposure to unsafe content, and encouraging offline activity. Polling before the ban indicated substantial public support for such measures.
The policy has already prompted significant changes: platforms began removing or age-verifying under-16 accounts ahead of the enforcement date, and hundreds of thousands of TikTok accounts have reportedly been deactivated. However, implementation challenges have emerged, with some teens reporting they remain logged in on certain services or are seeking workarounds to access content.
Critics of the law, including civil liberties advocates and some parents, argue that it risks isolating young people from social networks and support systems and may normalise intrusive verification practices. They also caution that age verification and enforcement technology may be imperfect or circumvented.
Observers worldwide are watching closely, as several countries, including Denmark and Malaysia, consider or propose similar restrictions on underage social media access, though with varying approaches and age thresholds.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner will oversee ongoing enforcement, and the legislation calls for an independent review of its impact within two years to assess outcomes for online safety, youth wellbeing, and compliance effectiveness.
Read more on Tech Gist Africa:
Instagram Goes PG-13: Meta’s New Teen Safety Measures Limit Content Exposure
Australia Expands Social Media Ban to Include YouTube for Children Under 16
