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This page has information about the new Australian laws relating to the social media ban for children and young people under 16.
It will soon be against the law for children under 16 years in Australia to have an account on social media platforms. The ban will apply to all current users and new users under 16.
Social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from having an account.
A social media platform is an online service where the main purpose is to enable online social interactions between two or more users like chatting or posting.
The government has not published a social media app ban list, but it is likely that major platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X and Facebook will be banned.
The ban could also cover other platforms like Reddit, Discord, Twitch, Roblox and Fortnite because they have social networking features.
Social media apps that are mainly used for education or health, or for sending messages, are not expected to be banned. For example, headspace, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom, YouTube, WhatsApp, Messenger Kids or Youth Law Australia’s webchat service.
The ban can also apply to new social media platforms that are developed in the future.
The government may also make more laws that say specific platforms or types of platforms are (or are not) age-restricted social media platforms.
The Government has said that the age restrictions will take effect by 11 December 2025.
We don’t know yet exactly how social media companies will prevent children under 16 from having accounts. It may require people who access social media to provide more personal information to social media companies.
The Australian government is currently trialing age assurance methods including analysis of voices and hand movements, technology to estimate your age by scanning your face and ways to provide identity documents without putting sensitive data at risk. You can read more about the trials here: https://ageassurance.com.au/
The changes in the law are focused on the responsibilities of social media companies, not on what children and their families are doing.
If children under 16 create or use social media accounts, they won’t be fined or charged, and neither will their parents or carers.
There will be consequences for social media companies, who may face fines if they don’t take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from having an account.
The changes don’t make things against the law for children, and you won’t get in trouble from the government for contacting your friends or for having a phone. You will still be able to send text messages to your friends and family from your phone and via some other messaging apps.
Yes, you have a right to be safe online and to get help even if you lied about your age or used someone else’s account, identity or device. For example, if you are under 16 and used a banned social media platform, but something happens, like you got tricked into sending a nude or you are being threatened, you can still get help. You can also get help if you are worried about getting into trouble for something you did online. If you’re not sure what to do you can contact us here.
The social media ban impacts the human rights of children and young people. Key rights that are impacted are the right to:
You can read more about your rights on our page about the Convention on the Rights of the Child here.
You can access more information about the ban and tips on how to prepare for the ban and cope with the changes via these links:
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