Australia Begins Enforcing Under-16 Social Media Ban, Marking a Global First
Australia has officially begun enforcing one of the world’s strictest online safety laws, banning all children under the age of 16 from creating or keeping accounts on major social media platforms. The rule, introduced under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, took effect nationwide on December 10 and is already drawing major global attention as governments reassess how to protect young users online.
The new law makes it illegal for platforms to host accounts belonging to anyone under 16. Importantly, the responsibility lies entirely with social media companies. Children and parents will not be penalised. From midnight, platforms were required to activate stricter age verification systems and remove all existing underage accounts.
What the New Law Requires
Under the policy, platforms must take “reasonable steps” to stop users under 16 from accessing their services. This includes investing in age verification or estimation tools using facial scans, voice samples, behavioural signals or formal ID checks. Self-reported ages or parental consent are no longer valid.
Platforms violating the rule could face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (USD 33 million). Companies including X, Instagram and TikTok have already begun rolling out age estimation tools. X, owned by Elon Musk, said it will rely on AI age inference and document-based checks.
Which Platforms Are Banned?
The ban applies to major social networks and algorithm-driven content platforms such as:
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Reddit, Twitch and Kick.
Underage users will not be able to open new accounts and existing accounts must be removed.
What’s Still Allowed?
Several platforms often used by younger audiences are not restricted under this law. These include WhatsApp, Messenger, Discord, Pinterest, Roblox, YouTube Kids and Google Classroom. Authorities classify them as communication or educational platforms rather than social media.
However, the government has hinted that gaming platforms may be reviewed next.
Why Australia Introduced the Ban
The decision follows a major national study that raised alarms over children’s online exposure. The findings showed:
• 96% of children aged 10–15 used social media
• 70% had seen harmful or violent content
• More than half experienced cyberbullying
• One in seven encountered grooming-like behaviour
Officials compared the regulation to age limits for alcohol or driving, calling it a delay rather than a denial of digital access.
Mixed Reactions Across the Country
While many parents welcomed the measure, tech companies, privacy advocates and teenagers have pushed back. YouTube warned the law was rushed and may leave children more vulnerable by forcing them to browse without logged-in protections. Elon Musk criticised the law as a potential tool for government overreach.
Teenagers, meanwhile, remain sceptical. A nationwide survey found that most teens believe the ban will not stop underage use, and three-quarters said they plan to continue accessing social media anyway. Two 15-year-olds have already challenged the law in court, arguing it violates young people’s rights to communication and political participation.
Australia now stands at the centre of a global debate on digital safety as it attempts to balance freedom, privacy and the responsibility of tech giants.
Our Thoughts
Australia’s new under-16 social media ban marks a significant shift in how governments think about online safety. While the intention is clear—protecting children from harm such as cyberbullying, grooming and violent content—the policy raises complex questions about privacy, digital freedom and how companies collect user data. Major platforms now face pressure to build accurate and secure age verification systems, but the risk of misuse or overreach remains a concern for civil liberties groups.
At the same time, teenagers’ widespread resistance suggests enforcement may become challenging. If young users move to unregulated platforms, the safety risks could intensify rather than reduce. The next few months will determine whether the ban becomes a model for other countries or sparks a larger conversation about balanced online regulation. TheTrendingPeople.com will continue tracking the rollout, public response and global implications of this unprecedented policy shift.
