The Australian government has passed a world-first law that will prohibit children under 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X (Twitter), Reddit, and YouTube. The legislation, part of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, comes into effect on 10 December 2025.

Purpose of the Law

The law aims to protect young people from potential online harms, including mental health risks associated with social media use. It requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from creating or maintaining accounts.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Social media companies that fail to comply may face fines of up to A$49.5 million. The government has outlined guidelines for age verification, including safe methods such as document verification and secure third-party age checks.

Key Points

• The law targets major social media platforms, but some educational and messaging services are exempt.
• Under-16s themselves will not be penalized if they attempt to access restricted platforms.
• Parents will not face fines; the responsibility lies with social media companies.
• Users can still access public content that doesn’t require signing in.

Government Support and Guidance

The Australian eSafety Office will provide guidance to help platforms implement age restrictions safely and effectively. Parents and teens are advised to back up important data from their accounts ahead of the law’s implementation.

Criticism and Concerns

Some experts warn that children may migrate to less-regulated platforms, raising safety concerns. Others have highlighted potential privacy issues with age verification methods. Despite these challenges, the government emphasizes that the law is a major step toward protecting youth online.