Australia is preparing to enforce a landmark social media ban for users under 16 years old starting December 10, 2025. This law prevents teenagers aged 13 to 15 from creating or maintaining accounts on major platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Reddit.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has begun notifying affected users via texts, emails, and in-app alerts that their accounts will be disabled from December 4. Teenagers can download their content and must update their details to get notified when they become eligible to return. Those claiming to be over 16 can try age verification through a facial scan or government ID, although no method is completely reliable.
Companies face fines up to A$50 million if they fail to prevent underage access. While Meta opposes the ban and calls it “problematic,” it has committed to comply, emphasising concerns about cutting teens off from their social networks.
The government says the move aims to protect young people from online harm, but critics warn it might push teens towards less safe areas online and overlook social media’s positive role for some youths.
Gaming platform Roblox has introduced chat restrictions for under-16s to avoid inclusion in the ban. Exemptions apply to messaging apps and educational platforms like WhatsApp and Google Classroom.
Australia’s regulation is being closely watched as a pioneering approach to managing the risks of social media use among young people, balancing safety and digital inclusion.