Australia is not banning social media for everyone; the new law bans most major platforms for people under 16 only.
Who the ban applies to
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 sets a minimum age of 16 for accounts on certain social media platforms in Australia. Platforms must take “reasonable steps” to stop under‑16s opening accounts and to close existing under‑16 accounts, with very large fines if they fail.
Which apps are affected
The government has named ten main services that fall under the ban for under‑16s:
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- X (formerly Twitter)
- YouTube
- Twitch
- Threads (linked to Instagram)
- Kick (live‑streaming platform)
Some other apps like WhatsApp, Roblox and Discord are being reviewed and may be added later, but are not currently on the confirmed list.
Apps not currently banned
A separate list of services has been flagged as not covered by the ban at this stage, including WhatsApp, YouTube Kids, Roblox, Steam, Google Classroom, Pinterest and others, though that could change if the law is expanded. Children and teens are already moving to smaller or newer platforms that are not yet included, and authorities have warned more services might be added over time.
