Social Media Age Restrictions 

From 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping accounts.

Please see the attached letter from the Premier and Minister for Education, Training and Skills.

Information and resources for educators can be accessed through the eSafety Commissioner website >

Why the social media delay?

The changes aim to protect under-16s from pressures and risks they can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts. These come from design features in the platforms that:

• encourage them to spend too much time on screens – for example, by prompting them with “streaks” or streams of notifications and alerts, and pressuring them to view disappearing content
• increase the likelihood of exposure to negative, upsetting or manipulative content served up in their feeds by algorithms.

These features have been linked to harms to health and wellbeing – including increased stress levels, and reduced sleep and concentration.

Of course, they are not the only risks on social media. Young people can also be exposed to harmful conduct such as cyberbullying, being asked for nudes and being sent pornography or violent material. 

The delay provides under-16s with the time to:

• learn about social media’s benefits and risks
• build digital, social and emotional skills
• understand the importance of reaching out for help if things go wrong.

While the responsibility rests with the platforms themselves to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from having accounts, we can all play a part.

The age restrictions are a delay, not a ban. You won’t have to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to social media accounts, instead you can say ‘not yet’, knowing other under-16s are also being prevented from creating or keeping accounts so your child won’t be missing out.  

The delay gives you extra time to talk about online safety and wellbeing with your child, to help them prepare for the risks and pressures of social media when they turn 16. It’s breathing space for them to build digital, social and emotional skills, and to understand the importance of reaching out for help if things go wrong.

Quick facts

• The age restrictions are likely to apply to Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube, as well as other platforms. See the latest list.
• Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account.
• Schools may need to explore alternative methods for communicating with parents and students.  
• There are exclusions for a number of platforms, including educational tools such as learning management systems. For example, Google Classroom and YouTube Kids will not be age restricted, and YouTube videos that can be seen without logging in can still be shared by teachers.
• For further guidance, including whether educators will be able to use their own accounts to share age-appropriate education materials, please refer to school or sector policies and procedures.  

Find out more general information at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.   

Get ready for the social media age restrictions 8-step action plan for under 16's