Australia Set to Enforce World-First Social Media Ban for Under-16s on 10 December: What It Means for Young People and Families
Australia is days away from implementing a world-first policy that will block anyone under the age of 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms. The move, which has sparked intense national and global debate will take effect by 10 December 2025 and applies to apps including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Facebook, Reddit, Twitch, Threads, and Kick.
Under the new Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, passed in November 2024, social media companies, not young people or their parents, will be legally responsible for enforcing the age limit. Tech platforms that fail to prevent under-16s from opening or keeping accounts could face penalties of up to $50 million.
While the policy is framed as a move to protect young people, the reaction from experts, teens, parents and human-rights organisations has been mixed.
Why the Ban Is Happening
The Australian Government argues the ban is necessary to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of children, pointing to risks such as:
- cyberbullying
- exposure to harmful or distressing content
- grooming and online predators
- addictive platform design
- increased anxiety and social pressure
Supporters of the ban believe reducing early exposure to social media could ease the growing crisis of youth mental health.
How the Law Will Work
Platforms must introduce systems to verify a user’s age or reasonably estimate it. These may include:
- AI-powered age estimation using a photo or video
- Optional ID verification, with non-ID alternatives required by law
- Automated detection and removal of under-age accounts
Crucially, the Government emphasizes that young people and their families will not face penalties, even if a young person still manages to access the platforms. Responsibility and consequences fall entirely on the tech companies. Apps designed specifically for younger users, such as YouTube Kids, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom, and educational platforms, are expected to be exempt.
Young People Left With Questions
Despite the ban’s direct impact on teenagers, many say they were not adequately consulted. Teens have raised questions such as:
- What if I already have an account?
- How will platforms know my age?
- Will my data be safe?
- Will this actually make things safer or just limit access?
UNICEF Australia echoed the concern that young people’s voices have been largely missing from the decision-making process.
UNICEF Australia’s Position: “Delaying Access Is Not the Solution”
UNICEF Australia agrees that online harms must be addressed but argues that banning access won’t solve the deeper issues. The agency believes the priority should be:
- strengthening platform safety
- improving content controls
- making algorithms less harmful
- demanding higher accountability from tech companies
- educating young people on digital literacy
- involving young people in policy decisions
Global Ripple Effects
Australia’s decision is being closely watched worldwide.
- Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway are preparing similar rules.
- The European Union recently passed a resolution encouraging a minimum age of 16 for full social media access.
As 10 December Approaches: What Will Actually Change?
For teens already using social media, the biggest change will likely come from platforms enforcing stricter age checks and shutting down accounts flagged as underage.
For parents, the ban removes the option to give consent for their child to access a platform early.
For tech companies, the deadline marks the start of a major compliance challenge and potentially enormous fines.
As the countdown continues, both supporters and critics agree on one point: this landmark decision will reshape the digital landscape for millions of young people in Australia and could signal a broader global shift in how the world approaches online safety.
