- By Supratik Das
- Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:55 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Australia teen social media ban: Australia has begun enforcing a first-of-its-kind nationwide restriction that bars children under the age of 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms, marking one of the world’s strictest attempts to curb online harm among young users.
The move, passed under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, is being closely watched by governments globally as debates over children’s digital safety intensify.
What's In The Policy?
The new law makes it illegal for social media platforms to host accounts belonging to anyone under 16. Importantly, the burden of compliance rests on social media companies, not on children or parents. The ban will officially take effect on December 10 across Australia. From midnight (1300 GMT).
Key provisions include:
Platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from accessing their services.
Companies must use age verification or estimation technology, including facial or voice assessment, behavioural signals, or ID-based checks.
Self-reported ages or parental approval will not count as valid verification.
Platforms found to be in serious or repeated violation face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian Dollars (USD 33 million).
Elon Musk's X has said they will comply with using age inference, guessing a person's age from their online activity or age estimation, which is usually based on a selfie. They might also check with uploaded identification documents or linked bank account details.
What’s Banned?
The ban covers the major platforms that depend heavily on social interaction, content sharing and algorithmic feeds. These include:
• TikTok
• Snapchat
• YouTube
• Threads
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Twitch
• Kick
Underage users will not be able to open accounts on these services. Their old accounts must be removed.
What’s Not Banned?
Several platforms frequently used by children are not covered because regulators classify them as primarily messaging or gaming services.
These include:
• Messenger
• Discord
• Roblox
• YouTube Kids
• Google Classroom
Under-16s can continue to use these, though age-gated features may still apply. Though the Australian government has signalled that gaming platforms may be reviewed in the future, depending on usage patterns and safety concerns.
Why Australia Is Pushing The Ban?
The government says the ban responds to a growing body of evidence showing the harm social media causes to young people.
A major national study found:
• 96 per cent of children aged 10–15 were using social media
• 7 out of 10 had encountered harmful or violent content
• More than half had experienced cyberbullying
• One in seven reported grooming-like behaviour from adults or older teens
Authorities have compared the measure to Australia’s age limits for alcohol, tobacco and driving, insisting the new regulation is a “delay, not a denial” of digital access.
Mixed Reactions On Ban
While many parents support the ban, tech companies and teenagers have raised concerns. Platforms argue that the law is difficult to implement, potentially harmful to user privacy and could push young people into unregulated online spaces. YouTube described the legislation as “rushed”, warning it would leave minors less safe by forcing them into viewing content without logged-in protections.
Elon Musk has said the ban "seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians," and most platforms have complained that it violates people's right to free speech.
Teenagers, too, are sceptical. In a nationwide survey, most teens said the ban would not work, and nearly three-quarters said they intended to keep using social media. Two 15-year-olds have already challenged the law in court, arguing it violates youths’ rights to communication and participation in political dialogue.
As the ban takes effect, Australia enters uncharted territory, balancing digital freedom, safety, and the responsibility of tech giants in the online lives of millions of young people.
With inputs from agency.