Social Media safety......

Quick facts

• From 10 December 2025, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts on their 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.

   

• Most standalone gaming and messaging apps, as well as many services that support health and education, will not be affected by the new law.

   

• There are no penalties for under-16s who access an account on an age-restricted social media platform, or for their parents or carers. This is about making the platforms take greater responsibility for the safety of children – they face penalties of up to $49.5 million if they don’t take reasonable steps to implement the changes.