Australia’s groundbreaking new Social Media Age law will soon come into effect, banning anyone under the age of 16 from maintaining an account, as the government moves to enforce one of the world’s strictest online security measures.
The Australian government’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, passed in November 2024, will come into effect from Wednesday.
“From December 10, you will no longer be allowed to have a social media account if you are under 16,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. in a video statement which, according to 9 News Australia, was played in classrooms prior to social media restrictions. “You know better than anyone what it’s like to grow up with algorithms, endless feeds and the pressure that comes with it.”
The platforms that will be banned for young people in Australia are Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during a federal cabinet meeting in Perth on June 3, 2025. (Matt Jelonek/Getty)
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, the independent national online safety regulator, says the new minimum age law requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account, including implementing age guarantee measures, removing existing underage users and preventing them from re-registering through tools such as VPN detection.
A photo illustration shows iPhone screens displaying a range of social media apps in Bath, England, on February 9, 2025. (Anna Barclay/Getty)
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The eSafety Commissioner also expects social media platforms to provide clear assessment pathways and support resources for young users whose accounts have been deactivated.
“eSafety expects that the initial focus of providers will be on identifying and deactivating/deleting existing accounts of children under the age of 16, including through accessible pathways to report accounts of minors. We expect this to be accompanied by clear and timely information to those account holders about what will happen to their account, how they can download their information, where they can get support if they feel in need, and how they can challenge the platform’s determination that they are under 16 or may request review,” read the regulatory guidance in part.
Companies that don’t comply face fines of up to A$49.5 million, or about $32 million.
A teenager in Sydney holds a phone showing an Instagram age verification message after the account was locked on December 9, 2025. (AFP via Getty Images)
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“We have been very clear that this will not be perfect. But it is the right thing to do if society can express its views and its judgments about what is appropriate.” Albanese said.
“And when we look at the increase in mental health issues that young people are facing, when we look at the social harm caused by social media, there is no doubt that we want children to have the opportunity to enjoy their childhood, and we want parents to be empowered to have that discussion too.”
