Deputy Principal 

Australia introduces world-first social media age restrictions

Australia is implementing groundbreaking social media age restrictions to protect young people, with new rules taking effect on 10 December 2025.

The eSafety Commissioner has just released new information. I have provided a summary below, but the full article and link can be found at: eSafety.gov.au

Key Changes:

Minimum Age Requirement: Social media platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on their platforms. This applies to major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

It's Not a Ban: The government emphasises this is a "delay" rather than a ban. Under-16s and their parents face no penalties for accessing these platforms, but platforms themselves could face fines up to $49.5 million AUD for non-compliance.

What Platforms Are Affected?

The restrictions target services that:

• Enable online social interaction between users

• Allow users to link or interact with other users

• Permit users to post material

Exclusions: Online gaming and standalone messaging apps are exempt, though messaging services with social media features may still be included.

Implementation Approach

Australia's eSafety Commissioner is conducting extensive consultations throughout 2025 to develop practical guidelines for platforms. The approach focuses on:

• Proportionate risk-based measures

• Protecting human rights and privacy

• Supporting families and at-risk youth

• Minimising data collection requirements

Broader Safety Strategy

These restrictions are part of Australia's comprehensive online safety framework, which includes industry codes aimed at preventing children's exposure to inappropriate content and the proposed Digital Duty of Care, which requires platforms to proactively protect users.

The government continues investing in education and prevention programs, recognising that risks don't disappear when children turn 16. A mandatory review of the law's effectiveness will be conducted within two years of its implementation.

This represents the first national attempt to systematically restrict social media access for younger teens, positioning Australia as a global test case for digital age verification at scale.

Behaviour on school buses

On Wednesday, our school addressed concerning reports about student behaviour on school buses. Students were spoken to regarding incidents involving inappropriate language, moving around the bus while in transit, and throwing food.

We want to remind all families that school bus safety is a shared responsibility. Students are required to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened throughout the journey. This requirement exists not only for their own safety but also to ensure our drivers can focus on safely transporting all passengers.

Every student plays an important role in creating a respectful and secure environment for everyone on board. Moving around the bus, using inappropriate language, or throwing items creates dangerous distractions and puts all passengers at risk.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations at home. Please take a moment to discuss proper bus behaviour with your child, emphasising the importance of following safety rules and treating the driver and fellow students with respect.

If you have any questions or concerns about bus transportation, please don't hesitate to contact the school office.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe.