Canberra, Dec 10 : Australia’s landmark social media ban for children under 16 comes into force on Wednesday, December 10, making it illegal for minors to access major social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat.
Under the new rules, children below the age of 16 will be barred from creating new accounts, while existing accounts belonging to underage users will be deactivated. Australia has become the first democracy to introduce a nationwide ban of this kind.
The Australian government says the move is aimed at reducing the harmful impact of social media on children, though the decision has sparked a debate. Supporters argue the ban will protect young users from online harm, while critics warn it could limit children’s digital awareness and access to information.
Why Australia imposed the ban
The decision follows a government-commissioned study that examined the effects of social media on children. The study found that 96 per cent of children aged 10–15 use social media platforms.
Alarmingly, seven out of 10 children surveyed reported exposure to harmful content, including violent and misogynistic material, while more than half said they had experienced cyberbullying. The government said the ban is a direct response to these findings.
How the ban will be enforced
Under the new federal regulations, social media companies operating in Australia must implement robust age-verification systems to identify users under 16. These measures include identity checks, regular compliance audits and mandatory reporting on how minors are detected.
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to USD 31.95 million. The penalties will apply only to social media companies, not to children or their parents.
Platforms covered under the ban
The ban applies to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, YouTube, Reddit, Kick and Twitch for users under 16.
However, dating apps and online gaming platforms have been excluded for now, though the government has said the list will be periodically reviewed, with the possibility of expanding the ban.
YouTube Kids, Google Classroom and WhatsApp are exempted from the restrictions.