Australia set to bar kids under 16 from social media in new online safety rules

Australia is preparing to enforce a nationwide ban preventing children under 16 from using major social media platforms, according to a BBC report. From 10 December, platforms must take "reasonable steps" to ensure under-16s cannot create accounts and that any existing accounts held by them are removed or deactivated.

Goal of the policy
The government says the move aims to reduce the increasing "pressures and risks" children encounter online. These include features that keep them on screens longer and content that can harm mental health and wellbeing.

Findings that triggered concerns
A government-commissioned study found 96% of children aged 10 to 15 use social media. Seven in ten reported being exposed to harmful material such as misogynistic posts, violent fight videos, or content promoting eating disorders and suicide. One in seven said they experienced grooming-type behaviour, while more than half reported cyberbullying.

Platforms covered by the ban
Ten platforms are included: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch. The list will be reviewed over time. Criteria include whether a platform's main purpose is social interaction, whether users can interact with others, and whether users can post material. Platforms such as YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp are excluded. Children can still view content on platforms like YouTube that do not require accounts.

Companies face penalties, not families
Parents and children will not be penalised if the ban is breached. Companies must enforce the rules or risk fines up to AUD 49.5 million for serious or repeated violations. Authorities expect platforms to use age-assurance technologies, including government IDs, facial or voice recognition, or age inference based on behaviour. Platforms cannot rely solely on users declaring their age or parental approval.

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Steps taken by Meta
Meta will start closing teenage accounts in Australia from 4 December. Users removed by mistake can verify their age using a government ID or video selfie.

Doubts and criticism
Critics warn age-verification tools may fail to correctly identify under-16s, and harmful content remains accessible on platforms not included in the ban, such as gaming services and AI chatbots.

Government acknowledges imperfections
Australian Communications Minister Annika Wells said the rollout may not be flawless, noting that major reforms "are going to look a bit untidy on the way through."

Data protection concerns
Age verification requires collecting personal information. Legislation stipulates data must be used only for verification, destroyed once processed, and protected with penalties for misuse. Critics warn that past high-profile data breaches make large-scale collection risky.

Industry response
Social media companies have strongly objected. Many say the ban will be difficult to implement, easy to circumvent, and burdensome. Snap and YouTube have denied being social media companies for the ban, while Meta highlighted potential inconsistencies across apps.

Global context
The ban is a world-first. Other countries have taken partial measures, such as parental consent or screen-time limits, but none has fully banned major platforms. In the UK, companies face fines or jail for failing to protect young users. France recommended banning under-15s and introducing a curfew for 15- to 18-year-olds. Denmark and Norway are considering under-15 bans, while Spain plans to require parental authorisation for under-16s. A US attempt in Utah to ban under-18s without parental consent was blocked by a federal judge.

Circumventing the ban
Teens interviewed by the BBC said they were opening new accounts with fake ages ahead of the ban. Some recommended alternative apps or shared tips to bypass restrictions. A few, including influencers, switched to joint accounts with parents. Commentators also predict a rise in VPN use, as happened in the UK after age control rules. The government has warned platforms to detect and remove such accounts.