Australia is preparing to introduce a world-first policy banning under-16s from using major social media platforms, with tech companies facing multimillion-dollar fines if they fail to comply. The Australia social media ban, which comes into force on 10 December, is intended to reduce the pressures and risks children face online- but it is already prompting debate over privacy, enforcement, and global precedent.
From next month, platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from creating accounts and deactivate any existing accounts held by them. Age checks will become mandatory, although the government has not specified which type of technology platforms must use.
Why Australia is acting now
A government-commissioned study earlier this year found that 96% of 10- to 15-year-olds were active on social media. Seven in ten had been exposed to harmful content, including misogynistic material, violence, eating-disorder content, and posts encouraging self-harm or suicide.
One in seven reported grooming-type behaviour from adults or older teens, and more than half said they had been cyberbullied.
The government says the Australia social media ban aims to reduce the impact of engagement-driven design features that encourage children to spend more time online while being exposed to harmful content.
Which platforms are affected
Ten platforms have been formally listed so far:
- Threads
- Snapchat
- TikTok
- X
- YouTube
- Twitch
- Kick
Gaming platforms such as Roblox and Discord are not currently included, though both have recently introduced age checks in a bid to avoid regulation. Parental-consent-based platforms such as YouTube Kids and Google Classroom are also excluded.
How enforcement will work
Parents and children will not be penalised for breaking the rules- responsibility lies solely with the social media companies. Serious or repeated breaches could result in fines of up to A$49.5m (€27.6m).
Age assurance may include government IDs, facial estimation, voice recognition, or behavioural analysis. The government expects platforms to combine several methods and has ruled out relying on self-declared ages.
Meta has already announced it will begin removing accounts belonging to minors from 4 December, offering government IDs or video selfies as verification if needed. Other platforms have yet to outline their approach.
Will it work?
Australia has acknowledged the rollout will be “untidy”. Age-verification technologies are not foolproof and some, such as facial estimation, are least accurate for the demographic they are meant to protect.
Critics argue the ban does not include other high-risk areas such as dating apps, gaming platforms, or AI chatbots. Others warn it may isolate vulnerable teens who rely on online communities for support.
Privacy remains another major concern, especially after several high-profile Australian data breaches. The government says strict protections are built into the law, requiring data to be deleted after verification and banning its use for other purposes.
How tech companies have reacted
Platforms have criticised the ban as difficult to enforce, easy for teens to circumvent and disruptive to user privacy. YouTube and Snapchat have argued they should not be classified as social media under the definition used. Google is reportedly considering a legal challenge.
Still, most companies say they will comply, even while warning the policy will lead to “inconsistent protections” across the many apps teens use.
Are other countries doing the same?
No country has implemented a full social media ban for under-16s, making Australia the first to attempt this approach. But the move comes amid a global surge in government intervention.
- United States: President Donald Trump attempted to ban TikTok nationwide, citing national security concerns. Several US states have pushed for parental-consent laws or under-18 restrictions, though some have been blocked in court.
- China: Most Western platforms are already banned. Chinese apps enforce strict youth-mode limits, including curfews and mandatory screen-time caps.
- European Union: The EU Digital Services Act forces platforms to provide enhanced protections for minors. Meanwhile, age verification is becoming mandatory for accessing adult content in several EU states.
- United Kingdom: New online safety rules allow regulators to fine companies or jail executives who fail to prevent minors from accessing harmful content.
- France, Denmark, Norway, Spain: These countries are considering or drafting under-15 or under-16 restrictions with parental-authorisation models.
- OpenAI: Even AI platforms like ChatGPT have recently tightened age restrictions, limiting under-18 usage in some regions and introducing new ID-based verification systems. OpenAI has also announced the intention to restructure ChatGPT by introducing an ‘adult mode’ starting in December, while tightening safety guardrails for accounts with unverified users.
Will teens bypass it?
Almost certainly. Young people interviewed by the BBC said they have already begun creating accounts with fake ages, while others share tips online on how to evade checks. A rise in VPN usage is expected, mirroring patterns in the UK after age-control rules came into effect.
Some teens have switched to joint accounts with parents; others are moving to lesser-known platforms or messaging apps that fall outside the ban.
Despite the challenges, Australia argues the reform is necessary. Whether the policy becomes a model for other governments- or a cautionary tale- will depend on how effectively platforms can enforce it in the months ahead.
Source: this article uses information sourced from the BBC
Also read: Meta plans to train its AI using your Facebook & Instagram content
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
