Australia Bans Social Media for Kids Under 16 from December 10, 2025: Platforms Face $49.5 Million Fine

Australia has announced one of the toughest internet safety laws in the world, banning children under 16 from using major social media platforms starting December 10, 2025. The move comes under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, aimed at protecting young users’ mental health and privacy in the digital era.

Under the new legislation, companies such as Meta (Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Reddit will be legally required to block underage users. Failure to comply could attract fines of up to USD 49.5 million (AUD 75 million) or 10% of the platform’s global turnover — whichever is higher.

A Nationwide Push for Digital Well-Being

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the decision as a “necessary step” to ensure that digital technology “does not come at the cost of children’s mental health or development.”

“We cannot allow social media to dictate how our children grow up,” Albanese said. “Australia will lead the world in putting the well-being of young people first.”

The policy is based on growing global evidence linking excessive social media use to anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and cyberbullying among teenagers. Recent studies from the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that over 60% of 13–15-year-olds reported experiencing online pressure, while one in three admitted to exposure to harmful or adult content.

What the New Law Covers

The Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024 defines social media as any online platform whose “primary purpose is social interaction, content sharing, or networking.”

This includes:

• Facebook

• Instagram

• TikTok

• Snapchat

• YouTube

• X (Twitter)

• Reddit

• Threads

• Kick

Minors will be prohibited from creating or maintaining accounts on these platforms once the ban takes effect.

However, certain platforms that serve educational, creative, or communication purposes will remain accessible under parental supervision, such as:

• WhatsApp

• Messenger

• YouTube Kids

• Discord

• GitHub

• LEGO Play

• Roblox

• Steam

• Google Classroom

The government clarified that these exceptions are meant to “balance safety with access to learning and social growth.”

Enforcement and Compliance Challenges

A key concern among tech experts and parents is how the ban will actually be enforced.
The government is considering multiple mechanisms, including:

• Official age verification using government ID

• Parental consent systems for minors aged 13–15

• AI-based facial recognition tools to detect underage users

However, critics have warned that such measures raise privacy concerns, especially with biometric data collection.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stated that the government would work closely with tech companies to “implement fair, transparent, and privacy-safe compliance systems.”

Tech Industry Pushback

Major technology firms have expressed strong reservations about the policy.

A spokesperson for Meta argued that the bill “oversimplifies the problem” and could “fail to address how children access online spaces through alternative means.”
TikTok said the broad definition of “social media platform” could extend to nearly any interactive website, while Google and Snap described the legislation as “vague and impractical.”

Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) raised questions about whether the new law aligns with international privacy standards and freedom-of-expression frameworks.

The industry has called for more consultation, warning that Australia’s law could set a precedent that other countries may follow without addressing deeper issues of digital literacy and mental health education.

Youth and Expert Reactions

Youth advocates have voiced frustration over being excluded from the discussions. The eSafety Youth Council, a panel of young Australians advising the government on online issues, said that while teenagers recognise the risks of social media, “they deserve a voice in creating safer, balanced digital environments rather than being completely locked out.”

Mental health experts, however, have largely supported the move. Psychologist Dr. Kate Johnson said the decision “reflects growing awareness that early, unrestricted exposure to social media can distort self-image, social comparison, and attention span.”

Dr. Johnson added that the law “sends a powerful message to parents and tech giants that child protection is non-negotiable.”

Global Implications and Next Steps

Australia’s move places it among a handful of nations — including France, the US (Utah and Arkansas), and the UK — considering or implementing similar underage social media restrictions.

International observers say the December 10 enforcement date will be a “critical test” of whether democratic governments can balance child safety with digital rights.

As implementation draws near, tech companies face the dual challenge of updating user systems and avoiding compliance breaches that could lead to massive fines and reputational damage.

For Australia, the debate is far from over — it’s the beginning of a new era of digital accountability, one that could redefine how young people across the world grow up online.

Australia’s under-16 social media ban marks a historic step — not just in internet regulation, but in reaffirming that the virtual world must serve the real-world well-being of the next generation.