Australia Officially Bans Social Media For Under-16s In Major Online Safety Push

Last Updated:December 10, 2025, 07:52 IST

Australia has introduced a strict new online safety rule, banning children under 16 from using several social media platforms, Prime Minister Albanese announced.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Australia has introduced one of the world’s strictest online safety rules, officially banning children under 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the measure on Wednesday, saying the country had “taken control back" from powerful tech companies.

What Albanese government said?

Albanese described the law as a world-first step aimed at protecting young people. He said Australia was showing that “enough is enough" when it comes to the bad influence of social media on children.

Under the new rules, platforms are required to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face heavy fines. As the law took effect, teenagers across the country lost access to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and several other platforms.

The impact is significant. Instagram alone said it had about 350,000 Australian users aged between 13 and 15. The government has clarified that not all Australians must verify their age, but those suspected of being under 16 can be asked to prove it. Young people can still view some content without logging in, but they cannot create or keep personal accounts.

Which platforms are affected?

The ban covers Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Streaming services like Kick and Twitch are also included.

YouTube was added to the list even though the government had earlier indicated it might be exempt due to its educational uses. For now, Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp remain allowed, but officials say the list is still being reviewed and may change.

Most companies have complied with the law, but many expressed concerns about its effects. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, warned that the ban could drive young people towards less regulated websites, putting them at greater risk.

The company said it had repeatedly cautioned the government that the law might have “counterproductive results", and claimed those fears were already becoming reality.

Elon Musk’s platform X also confirmed it would follow the rules. It was the last of the 10 restricted platforms to outline its compliance plan, stating that it had no choice but to obey Australian law.

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