From 10 December 2025, teens under 16 in Australia can no longer use popular social media platforms. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Twitch must now block accounts for anyone under this age. Companies that don’t follow the rules could face fines of up to A$ 49.5 million.
The government says the law is meant to protect young people from online dangers like cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and social media addiction. Apps for messaging, education, or games are not affected.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraged teens to spend more time offline, saying, “Read that book on your shelf … learn an instrument … spend time face-to-face with friends and family.” The aim is to help children enjoy a safer, healthier online experience while balancing real-life connections.
Even though the law started at midnight, some accounts on platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and Twitch were still active, as not all systems have full age verification yet. Authorities said these “teething problems” will be fixed soon, and any underage accounts will be removed. They also warned that some teens might try to bypass the ban using fake IDs or VPNs.
The ban has sparked mixed reactions. Parents, teachers, and child safety advocates welcome it as an important step to protect kids. But critics, including tech companies and free-speech supporters, worry it might isolate some teens or push them to less safe corners of the internet.
Australia is now the first country in the world to introduce such a broad social media age limit, and other nations are watching closely. The next few weeks will show how effective the law is in keeping teens safe online while still letting them stay connected with friends and family.
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