Australia's Bold Move: Social Media Ban for Teens Under 16
In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at protecting youth, Australia has announced a ban on social media accounts for teenagers under 16 years old. Platforms affected include Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and several others, with the ban set to take effect on December 10, 2025.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has begun notifying users aged 13 to 15 via text, email, and in-app messages regarding the deactivation of their accounts starting December 4. The Australian government estimates approximately 500,000 youths in this age bracket use Meta's platforms, highlighting the significant impact of this legislation, which aims to allow young users to thrive without the pressures of social media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the ban as 'world-leading', emphasizing the need for children to have a healthy childhood free from the distractions and mental health risks associated with social media. Meta has expressed opposition to the measure but will comply with the new regulations.
The ban will prevent under-16s from creating accounts on social media platforms, with strict compliance measures in place. Teens will be given the option to upload video selfies or use other age verification methods to validate their accounts when they turn 16. However, concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of these verification methods, as stated by the Age Check Certification Scheme, which noted that no single solution guarantees success across all scenarios.
Penalties for non-compliance are significant; platforms failing to adhere to age verification protocols risk facing fines of up to AUD 50 million (approximately GBP 25 million). Meta insists that it is committed to meeting compliance requirements while advocating for a more structured approach that includes parental consent for underage users.
In a related effort to sidestep the restrictions, gaming platform Roblox recently announced new policies aimed at limiting communications between young users and adults, thus attempting to align with evolving regulatory landscapes. Age checks will also be rolled out for chat features on the platform starting December 2025.
Which firms does Australia's social media ban apply to?
The e-safety commissioner has identified key platforms included in the ban:
- Kick
- Snapchat
- Threads
- TikTok
- X (formerly Twitter)
- YouTube
Not included: Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids.
