Australia Introduces Groundbreaking Ban on Social Media for Children Under 16

Sat Nov 22 2025 16:17:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Australia is set to implement a world-first ban prohibiting children under 16 from using social media, aimed at protecting their mental health and wellbeing amid rising concerns over online dangers.

Starting December 10, 2025, Australia will enforce a ban on children under the age of 16 from setting up accounts on major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. This unprecedented move aims to mitigate the risks associated with social media exposure, following alarming statistics revealing high instances of harmful content accessed by children. Critics and social media companies are voicing concerns about the practicality and effectiveness of the enforcement, alongside potential privacy implications regarding age verification methods.

From 10 December, social media companies will have to take reasonable steps to ensure that under-16s in Australia cannot set up accounts on their platforms and that existing accounts are deactivated or removed.

The government says the ban - a world-first policy popular with many parents - is aimed at reducing the pressures and risks children can be exposed to on social media, which come from design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing.

A study commissioned by the government earlier this year said 96% of children aged 10-15 used social media and that seven out of 10 of them had been exposed to harmful content and behaviour. This behaviour ranged from misogynistic material to fight videos and content promoting eating disorders and suicide.

One in seven also reported experiencing grooming-type behaviour from adults or older children, and more than half said they had been the victims of cyberbullying.

What platforms are affected?

The Australian government has so far named ten platforms to be included in the ban: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.

It is also under pressure to expand the ban to online gaming. Fearing they may be targeted, gaming platforms such as Roblox and Discord have recently introduced age checks on some features in an apparent bid to ward off inclusion in the ban.

The government has said it will continue to review the list of affected platforms, and will consider three main criteria when doing so.

These comprise whether the platform's sole or significant purpose is to enable online social interaction between two or more users; whether it allows users to interact with some or all other users; and whether it allows users to post material.

YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp are not included as they were not deemed to have met those criteria. Children will also still be available to view most content on platforms like YouTube, which do not require an account.

How will the ban be enforced?

Children and parents will not be punished for infringing the ban - it is social media companies who are charged with enforcing it, and they face fines of up to $49.5m (US$32m, £25m) for serious or repeated breaches.

The government says these companies must take reasonable steps to keep kids off their platforms, and use age assurance technologies - without specifying which ones.

Several possibilities have been raised, including the use of government IDs, face or voice recognition and age inference. The latter of these uses online information other than a date of birth - such as online behaviour or interactions - to estimate a person's age.

Will it work?

Without a clear idea of what methods companies will be using, it's hard to say whether the social media ban will be effective - but concerns have been raised that age assurance technologies may wrongly block some users while failing to spot others who are underage.

Critics argue that the ban, even if properly implemented, will not actually reduce online harm for children. Dating websites and gaming platforms are not included, nor are AI chatbots, which have recently made headlines for allegedly encouraging children to commit suicide and for having sensual conversations with minors.

Are there data protection concerns?

Critics have also raised concerns about the large-scale collection and storage of data that will be required, and its potential mishandling, as platforms try to verify users' ages. Australia has seen a series of high-profile data breaches recently.

How have social media companies responded?

Social media companies were aghast at the announcement of the ban in November 2024. They argued it would be difficult to implement, easy to circumvent, and time-consuming for users, among other privacy risks. YouTube's parent company Google is reportedly considering a legal challenge against the platform's inclusion.

Will children try to get around the ban?

Teens interviewed by the BBC mentioned plans to open new accounts with fake ages ahead of the ban. Online discussions suggested teens are actively sharing alternative apps and tips to bypass restrictions.