Australia Social Media Ban Under-16s. BluenBlur

According to the history, Australia ban social media for children under 16 years old. The legislation takes effect on December 10, 2025, marking a significant shift in how young Australians access digital platforms. Minister for Communications Anika Wells acknowledges no perfect solution exists, but believes these social media minimum age laws will create meaningful change for youth safety online.

Restricted Platforms: The Complete List

The Australian government has identified specific age-restricted platforms that will prohibit account creation for under-16s. Major social networks including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat fall under the ban. YouTube, Threads, Reddit, and Kick have also been added to the restricted list following recent legislative updates.

Understanding the Selection Criteria

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant explains that platforms meet ban criteria when their primary purpose enables online social interaction between multiple users. These restricted platforms also allow users to post original content and interact freely with the entire user base. However, platforms like YouTube and Reddit will still permit under-16s to view content without accounts, though posting and commenting remain prohibited.

Discord and Twitch remain fully accessible to Australian youth despite offering social connection features and content posting capabilities. Popular messaging applications like Messenger and WhatsApp have received exemptions from the social media age restrictions. Educational and gaming platforms including Google Classroom, Roblox, Steam, LEGO Play, GitHub, and YouTube Kids continue operating without age barriers for young users.

The social media minimum age law officially begins enforcement on December 10, 2025, exactly one month from the legislation’s passage. Social media companies must demonstrate “reasonable steps” to the eSafety Commissioner for removing or deactivating existing accounts held by under-16s. Each platform will implement different verification methods based on their unique circumstances, though all must prove their approaches meet reasonable standards.

Current account holders under 16 face deactivation or removal from banned platforms when the law takes effect. Social media companies must communicate changes to affected users before December 10 using empathetic, clear language about the transition process. For users who believe their accounts incorrectly flagged or deactivated under the new restrictions, platforms must also establish appeal procedures

Parents cannot override the social media ban by providing consent for their children under 16 to maintain accounts on restricted platforms. The Australian government frames this legislation as a “delay” rather than an outright ban, positioning it as a temporary restriction until children reach appropriate age. Self-declaration of age for existing account holders discouraged due to concerns about verification circumvention and dishonest reporting.

The eSafety Commissioner confirms the banned platforms list remains subject to modifications before December implementation. Reddit and Kick recently added to restricted platforms, generating discussion about consistency in platform selection criteria. Government officials continue meeting with social media companies to ensure compliance and address implementation challenges as the deadline approaches.

Key Takeaways

Australia becomes the first country to ban social media for under-16s starting December 10, 2025
Nine major platforms face restrictions: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Threads, Reddit, and Kick
Messaging apps and gaming platforms like Discord, WhatsApp, and Roblox remain accessible
Existing accounts must deactivate with appeal processes available
Parental consent cannot override the age restriction
Platform list may change before implementation date