Social media bans are becoming a worldwide phenomenon among governments, with places like France, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and certain US states, among others, implementing bans for children and young adults. The Australian government has followed suit, with an impending ban on the horizon, set to begin on 10 December 2025. Why has the Australian government made this decision? How will it be implemented? What does this mean for you as an under-16, over-16, parent, or teacher?
What is the Social Media Ban in Australia?
On 28 November 2024, the Australian government passed a new law, called the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024.
It aims to limit children under the age of 16’s exposure to social media, even going so far as to not allow children access to social media regardless of their parents’ opinions.
Social Media Ban Takes Effect
December 10, 2025 12:01 am
Under-16s will not be allowed to create a new account on at least several popular social media platforms, and they will lose access to those accounts if they already have one. The onus to prevent access is entirely on the companies that operate the websites and apps, meaning they are the ones who will pay a fine if an under-16 gains access to a restricted site. The Australian ban is currently the strictest social media ban for children in the world.
There will be a transition period of one year for tech companies to resolve access issues and figure out how to properly tailor their products to reliably exclude under-16s’ access.
Australian Social Media Ban Timeline
2024
Peter Malinauskas Inspired by Wife, Annabel West, to Take Action About Social Media
West implored Malinauskas to read "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt (a social psychologist based in the U.S.) and use his position to address the issue.
September 2024
Preliminary Plans for Social Media Ban Announced by PM Anthony Albanese
21 November 2024
Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 Introduced
28 November 2024
Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 Passed
The law was set to take effect in one year (which is what we are seeing now)
November 2024
Age Assurance Technology Trial Began
The Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) begins research about the viability of age verification technology available for use in a social media ban.
June 2025
Age Assurance Technology Trial Ended; Report Issued
The report suggests that age verification technology can be used and is suitable for most use cases; however, there may be some concerns over personal data.
16 September 2025
Fine Against Non-Complying Tech Companies Set
It was determined that the eSafety Commissioner can fine companies that do not take reasonable steps to bar under-16s up to AUD$49.5 million.
10 December 2025
Social Media Sites Must Start Blocking Under-16 Accounts
Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Threads) has decided to start the process on 4 December.
Why is There a Social Media Ban in Australia?
There are many compelling reasons why governments need to intervene in the relationship between social media and children, and the Australian government is responding to those reasons.
The main immediate objectives are to protect young people against threats like cyberbullying, online predators, inappropriate content, and risks to mental health. There are many studies that show that social media consistently contributes to psychological harm and data privacy invasions among under-16s.
It’s not a ban, it’s a delay to having accounts.
esafety.gov.au
Although all social media sites already have their own terms and conditions and user policies that typically prohibit under-14s from signing up (at least, without parental permission) and claim to ban harmful speech and the like, most users find these rules ineffective. The government agrees, which is why they have created legislation to further control the sites.
Furthermore, those in favour of the ban cite that they want kids to be more encouraged to play, read, and spend time outside instead of spending time on their phones and computers.
They say that this delay in gaining access to social media is important for young people to develop healthy habits and learn more about safe internet use before getting caught up in social media.
Whether the ban can actually help these things has yet to be seen.
Though well-intended, many groups are also saying that the social media ban in Australia infringes on children’s rights.
The Australian Human Rights Commission cites that the ban violates many articles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
These international conventions are treaties that have to do with human rights. Most of the world has signed both treaties, meaning they are all bound by international law. The aim of the treaties is to ensure people all over the world have basic human rights, including freedom of expression, education, development, culture, recreation, access to information (especially about health topics), and the right to privacy. It’s also a foundational point that parents are meant to be the ones to enforce rules about development and upbringing, not governments.
Most people argue that something needs to be done about the social media problem, but this blanket ban may end up doing more harm than good. What’s clear is that the government, tech companies, and users can expect to have some rocky months ahead. There will probably be many amendments, changes, additions, and subtractions regarding the ban policy in the coming months and years as course correction. It’s an interesting time in history, and it will be even more interesting to look back in a few decades to see what was done right and what errors were made.
How Will the Social Media Ban Work?
One of the main concerns of companies and users is how will the social media ban work in Australia? Though the Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) determined that sufficient technology exists that can adequately perform age checks digitally and without privacy violations, there hasn’t been a cohesive plan implemented by the government.
Currently, it appears entirely up to each company to come up with and implement a solution. The only substantial rule right now is that the tech companies must adequately attempt to bar under-16s from accessing their apps and websites or face a hefty fine. How they do it and how effective their methods are vary.
This is one of the oversights that has left many users and companies critical of the ban. Companies, because they aren’t certain what’s expected of them, and users, because they feel they’ll be unfairly banned from social media and forced to prove their age through facial recognition or showing a government ID. In today’s age, where many companies are shown time and time again to be stealing, leaking, or selling personal data, it’s a very valid concern.
Which Apps and Websites Will Be Banned?
As of 21 November 2025, there are ten websites that fall under the ban and are expected to bar under-16s from accessing their services.
These sites are:
- Snapchat
- Twitch
- Threads
- TikTok
- X
- YouTube
- Kick
The reason these sites are targeted is that the eSafety Commissioner has determined that their “sole or a significant purpose is to enable online social interaction”. The ban is intended to cut down on children having harmful interactions, hence the justification.
eSafety has stated they are focusing on the sites with the largest number of users in Australia, meaning they haven’t evaluated many (or perhaps, any) minor sites. This glaring flaw in the plan means that many youths will likely flock to previously underused sites and apps, at least until they get added to the ban list.
Interestingly, the following apps and sites have so far been deemed unaffected by the ban:
- Discord
- GitHub
- Google Classroom
- LEGO Play
- Messenger
- Roblox
- Steam and Steam Chat
- YouTube Kids
Clearly, there will be nuance going forward about which sites and services receive the title of ‘age-restricted social media platform’. The eSafety Commissioner has also stated that the lists of sites affected and unaffected are subject to change as needed going forward.
Crucially, the eSafety Commission confirms that anyone will still be able to access websites and the content available for non-logged-in users. This means that, as long as you do not try to log in, you’ll still be able to see posts on Instagram and Facebook and watch videos on YouTube, etc. You will not be able to interact with them, though, since you will not be logged in.
What Will Happen to My Social Media Account?
The general plan put in place by tech companies is to put a hold on under-16s accounts and prevent new accounts from being made. Facebook and Instagram, particularly, have stated that these accounts will be temporarily locked, and that they’ll send a message to the account holder when they turn 16 so they can re-enter their account at that time. It’s a good idea to download and back up any important information on your social media accounts before you lose access.
If you get locked out before you download your information, you may not be able to access it again until you turn 16 and can prove it to the website. Again, it’s not clear how this proof will need to be given.
Some sites may allow users to confirm their age by showing a government ID, but they must also provide an alternative age verification method. However, it’s not clear what these methods may be.
Are There Alternative Apps and Sites Under-16s Can Use?
eSafety itself offers two alternatives on its website: My Circle (for 12-25 year olds) and Beyond Blue forums.
Other options include ReachOut and headspace.
Right now, any other sites besides the nine explicitly mentioned will not be held to the ban. However, remember that at any time, the eSafety Commission can add any site to the ban list if it decides it’s being used primarily as a way for users to interact with one another. This means, right now, there is no reliable site to invest your time and energy in that will definitely not be added to the ban list.
eSafety has also issued a helpful webpage listing the online resources available to internet users (with most services being aimed at children and young adults). These resources are meant to be used for critical support, like in dangerous circumstances or for important advice.
How Will This Affect Parents and Teachers?
Whether you agree with the ban or not, the fact is that the landscape of internet use is about to change.
Parents can help their children adjust to life with less social media by using this time as an opportunity to encourage other activities, like crafts, reading, or playing outside. Parents should also be sure to support their children emotionally, as it will likely be a difficult transition; many kids use these social media outlets to keep in touch with helpful friends and communities. Parents should also be aware that many children may end up in more dangerous corners of the internet in lieu of the standard channels, so teaching them about internet safety and monitoring them is more imperative than ever.
In schools, teachers will be able to embed resources like YouTube videos for lesson plans without a problem, assuming students do not need to log in to view the material. Most (if not all) school communication software will remain unaffected by the ban since they’re used to communicate things like announcements, rather than allowing users to chat.
While no penalty will be applied to parents, teachers, or schools that are involved with an under-16 accessing banned sites, it’s expected that they adhere to the law and do not help students bypass barring measures.
For both parents and teachers, there are many resources available on the eSafety website. It can be helpful to review these resources before the social media ban in Australia, before it starts on 10 December 2025. It's also important to learn more about the anticipated impacts on parents, teachers, and children.
The future of Australia's social media ban is unknown. Perhaps the ban will be retracted, unsuccessful, by 2027, or perhaps it will be amended or expanded. All over the world, many governments and their people are going through similar struggles as we all try to navigate this novel world of social media. Though it may seem that social media has been around for a long time, it's just been a small blip in the grand scheme of things. Hopefully, tech companies, governments, and users can all find a way to make a useful, safe, and secure social media landscape in the near future.
References
- Age Assurance Technology Trial. https://ageassurance.com.au/
- Australian parliament passes landmark bill to ban children from social media. (2024). https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2024/11/27/australia-s-parliament-passes-bill-that-would-ban-young-children-from-social-media_6734244_13.html#
- Australian social media ban on under-16s approved by parliament. (2024). In www.bbc.com. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89vjj0lxx9o
- Australia’s Social Media Ban Protects the Mental Health of Children: A Look at the Evidence. (n.d.). In Institute for Family Studies. https://ifstudies.org/blog/australias-social-media-ban-protects-the-mental-health-of-children-a-look-at-the-evidence
- Australian social media ban started with call to act by politician’s wife. (n.d.). In Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-social-media-ban-started-with-call-act-by-poiliticans-wife-2024-11-29/
- Fardouly, J. (2025). Potential effects of the social media age ban in Australia for children younger than 16 years. In The Lancet Digital Health (Vol. 7, Issue 4, pp. e235–e236). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landig.2025.01.016
- Guzman, C. de. (2025). Meta Removes Under-16 Users Before Australia’s Ban. In TIME. https://time.com/7335378/meta-australia-social-media-under-16-ban/
- Instagram and Facebook-owner Meta notifies Australian teens of accounts shutdown. (2025). In www.bbc.com. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz919xyx7weo
- Lyndal Rowlands. (2025). Meta sets date to remove Australians under 16 from Instagram, Facebook. In Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/20/meta-sets-date-to-remove-australians-under-16-from-instagram-facebook
- Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s in Australia. (n.d.). In Australian Human Rights Commission. https://humanrights.gov.au/about-us/news/proposed-social-media-ban-under-16s-australia
- Social media age restrictions. (2025). In eSafety Commissioner. eSafety Commissioner. https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions
- Social media ban in Australia. (n.d.). In UNICEF Australia. UNICEF Australia. https://www.unicef.org.au/unicef-youth/staying-safe-online/social-media-ban-explainer?srsltid=AfmBOorHLuV1aUWyEI1KS6rELI1dVwtHHDMXdABFq-W7PV23oryc94zp
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