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2d ago

Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Takes Effect

Platforms face fines of up to AU$49.5 million if they fail to block and deactivate underage accounts.

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Hugo Winwood-Smith, right, Hardy Macpherson and Edan Abou, left, all 11-years-old, use their phones while sitting outside a school in Sydney, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Overview

  • More than 1 million accounts held by Australians under 16 are expected to be deactivated as enforcement begins today, with some removals already underway since early December.
  • Companies must take “reasonable steps” to stop minors holding accounts, with penalties targeting platforms only and no sanctions for children or parents.
  • Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, X, Reddit, Threads, Kick and Twitch are covered, while WhatsApp, Messenger, Roblox and Discord are currently excluded.
  • Platforms are deploying a mix of age checks, including AI age estimation, government ID alternatives, bank-linked verification and behavioral signals, and they must provide appeal processes for mistakes.
  • Public polling shows strong support for the ban but limited plans by parents to fully enforce it at home, teens report likely workarounds, and a High Court challenge by two 15-year-olds backed by the Digital Freedom Project is pending.