Australia Implements World-First Social Media Age Restriction for Minors

Australia is set to implement the world's first government-mandated prohibition on social media account ownership for individuals under the age of 16, effective December 10, 2025. The measure, formalized under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, places the onus of enforcement on social media corporations, which face maximum financial penalties of A$49.5 million for non-compliance. The legislation requires platforms to take 'reasonable steps' to block access for this age demographic, impacting both new registrations and established accounts.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the reform as a landmark initiative aimed at combating social harm and restoring childhood experiences for young people. The law specifically targets platforms whose primary or significant purpose is social interaction between end-users. The initial list of ten platforms subject to the ban includes major services such as Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Threads, Kick, and Twitch. Communications Minister Anika Wells noted that this roster is subject to expansion based on assessments by the eSafety Commissioner.

In anticipation of the mandate, Meta began deactivating accounts for its under-16 users across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads starting December 4, 2025, providing users options to back up data or delete their profiles. Other companies are adopting varied approaches; for example, Snapchat intends to use account behavioral signals alongside user-provided birth dates, though the government has stipulated that age verification cannot rely solely on identity document requests. Proponents frame the intervention as a necessary public health measure, drawing parallels to existing restrictions like liquor laws, especially given data indicating 96 percent of Australian children use social media, with 70 percent reporting exposure to harmful content.

The rollout faces inherent complexities, with Minister Wells cautioning that the process will not be flawless on the commencement date, and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stating that not all under-16 accounts will be removed immediately. Significant legal scrutiny is underway, evidenced by a constitutional challenge filed in the High Court of Australia by the Digital Freedom Project, supported by two 15-year-old plaintiffs, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland. Their argument asserts the blanket ban constitutes an excessive infringement on the constitutional right to freedom of political communication, viewing digital spaces as the modern public forum for younger generations.

Critics have also raised concerns regarding the efficacy and privacy implications of age verification technologies, despite the law specifying no Australian will be compelled to use a Digital ID. There is potential for minors to shift activity to less visible online environments or employ circumvention techniques, moving activity away from regulated spaces. Nevertheless, the implementation is being closely monitored internationally, with suggestions that Australia's regulatory action could initiate a global shift in technology governance, positioning the nation as a leader in addressing the influence of large technology companies.