Social Media (U16) 

What is the social media ban? 

The Australian Government passed a new law called the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 on 28 November 2024. This law introduces a mandatory minimum age of 16 for accounts on specific social media platforms. It will take effect by December 2025, and parents cannot give consent for under-16s to use these platforms. 

Why is the social media ban happening?  

The Government says the social media ban is needed to protect the mental health and wellbeing of Australian children and teens. They believe the risks of social media, such as cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predators, outweigh the positives. 

What social media platforms does the ban apply to? 

The platforms the ban will apply to still need to be officially finalised, but the suggestions at the moment are YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit. Tech companies that own these platforms could face fines of up to $50 million if they don’t take reasonable steps to stop under-16s from having accounts.   

Apps like Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom, and YouTube Kids are expected to be excluded from the ban.  

How will social media platforms know my age?  

There was talk that Aussies would have to hand over personal IDs, such as driver’s licences or passports, but the Government is expected to decide against it. A few ideas are floating around on how to ensure that under-16s don’t access these platforms, but there is no one solution yet.  

What will happen to me if I have an account? 

It's up to the platform's owner to implement systems to prevent those under 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts. This means there won’t be fines or penalties for young people and their families if they gain access to age-restricted platforms. The tech companies will face potential penalties instead.