Social Media Law Changes

Get ready for the new social media minimum age

The Australian Government is taking world-leading action to reduce online harms experienced by young Australians by introducing a minimum age to access social media.

From 10 December 2025, a new law will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having a social media account, and deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16. 

Delaying access to social media accounts until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them 3 more years to build real world connections and online resilience. 

This change will reduce access for young people to some of the harmful aspects of social media, such as algorithms that recommend content, infinite scrolling, and other features designed to keep users continuously engaged. The law is intended to capture social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook and YouTube. 

But it won’t stop young people from staying in touch with friends online, playing games, learning new things and being entertained. In fact, they will still be able to access messaging apps, online gaming, professional networking and development services, and services that are primarily for the purposes of education and health support. 

This delay to social media will give young Australians more time to develop real world connections and digital literacy skills before they join global platforms. 

For more information, and tips for helping under 16s prepare for the change, visit the eSafety website.

Whilst the College will continue its education of eSafety through Personal Development lessons, we encourage you to partner with us in implementing these bans at home, for the safety of our students. 

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