Australia is implementing one of the strictest social media age bans in the world

🚨 What Is the Ban?

On November 28–29, 2024, Australia passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, formally amending the Online Safety Act 2021. The law requires social media platforms to prevent individuals under 16 from registering or holding accounts. Platforms face penalties of up to AU$49.5–50 million for non-compliance.
The legislation assigns full responsibility to tech companies, not parents or youths, to enforce these measures. No parental-consent exceptions are allowed.
Initially, the ban was slated to apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, and X, with exemptions for services considered educational or health-focused, such as YouTube, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, and Google Classroom.

The law comes into effect in December 2025, giving platforms 12 months to develop and deploy age verification systems.
The government has funded Age Assurance Technology Trials and expects platforms to take “reasonable steps” for verification, although the exact technical standards remain unspecified.
Platforms must deactivate existing accounts held by under‑16s by the enforcement date and prevent circumvention via methods such as VPNs.

In a policy shift announced July 2025, the government confirmed YouTube will be added to the ban, effective December 10, 2025. Children under 16 will still view content but will be unable to register accounts, comment, or receive personalized recommendations.This change followed advice from the eSafety Commissioner, citing YouTube as a frequent source of harmful exposure for children. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines up to A$50 million.

Public support is high: about 77% of Australians support the age limit, with 58% concerned about its effectiveness.
Critics—including academics, youth advocates, and experts—describe the ban as a “blunt instrument”, warning it could isolate vulnerable youth, drive them to the dark web, or infringe on privacy rights.
Platforms including Meta, Snapchat, and Google expressed concerns over rushed legislation and practical feasibility. Alphabet (YouTube) objected to being categorized as “social media” and signaled possible legal challenge.
The Greens party and Senate committees pushed for broader regulation rather than age-based bans, urging better accountability of platforms.