Child Safety Officer
From 10 December 2025, new Australian laws will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent children under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. These changes aim to protect young Australians from online risks and are being overseen by the e-Safety Commissioner.
The Social Media Minimum Age Obligation, introduced through amendments to the Online Safety Act 2021, mandates that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) must restrict access for users under 16. This is a world-first policy designed to safeguard children during a critical stage of their development.
Key points:
Platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from having accounts.
This applies to both new sign-ups and existing accounts.
The e-Safety Commissioner has highlighted that social media platforms often use design features that encourage excessive screen time and expose children to harmful content. These changes are intended to reduce such exposure and support healthier online habits.
However, the success of this policy will depend heavily on education and parental involvement. As one expert noted, “Effective regulation doesn’t live in legislation; it lives in experience."
At Leighland Christian School, we encourage families to take proactive steps considering these changes:
Talk to your children about the new laws and why they exist.
Review their social media use and help them understand safe online behaviour.
Use parental controls and age-appropriate settings on devices and apps.
Stay informed through trusted sources like the e-Safety Commissioner’s website.
As a Christian school community, we believe in nurturing the whole child—spiritually, emotionally, and socially. These new laws offer an opportunity for families, educators, and policymakers to work together in creating safer digital environments for our young people.
The e-Safety Commissioner website is the best place to find up to date information about the new laws and other issues, including cyber safety and cyber bullying.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions
Bettina Townsend
Head of Secondary & Child Safety Officer