Australia is not banning social media for everyone, but it has brought in a strict nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16 and is forcing platforms to police it.

What the ban actually is

Australia has passed a federal law (the Online Safety Amendment / Social Media Minimum Age rules) that makes it illegal for major social platforms to provide accounts to users under 16 who are in Australia. The ban is already in force as of 10 December 2025 and is described as a world‑first national prohibition on social media accounts for under‑16s.

Who is being banned

The law targets people under 16 years old, not adults. Parents are not allowed to “opt‑in” their children, so even parental consent does not make it legal for an under‑16 to have an account on the covered platforms.

Which platforms are covered

Australia’s online safety regulator has listed at least ten “age‑restricted” platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. Other services, like some messaging or gaming apps, can be added later if regulators decide they function like social media for teens.

How the ban will be enforced

Responsibility sits with the companies, not kids or parents, and children will not be fined or prosecuted for using social media. Platforms must take “reasonable measures” such as age‑verification systems and mass removal of suspected under‑16 accounts, or face penalties that can reach about 50 million Australian dollars for serious or repeated breaches.

What this looks like in practice

Major platforms have begun closing millions of accounts that appear to belong to under‑16s in Australia and blocking new sign‑ups from that age group. Users who are wrongly caught up can typically regain access only by proving they are 16 or older, for example with government ID or approved age‑verification tools.