Australia has enacted a significant law that prohibits children under 16 years of age from accessing social media platforms. The legislation, which received final approval in late 2025 and is being implemented throughout 2026, places the burden of responsibility on the social media companies rather than parents or children. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat are now legally required to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under the age limit from creating accounts or using their services.
The law does not include a “grandfather clause,” meaning existing accounts held by those under 16 must be identified and removed. Additionally, there are no exemptions for children who have parental consent. The Australian government has stated that this measure is a response to growing concerns over the impact of social media on the mental health and physical safety of young people. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines of up to 50 million AUD (~$33 million USD) for the tech companies involved.
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Implementation and age-verification trials
To enforce the ban, the Australian government is conducting extensive trials of age-verification technologies. These trials explore various methods, including biometric face-scanning and government-issued ID checks, to determine the most effective and privacy-compliant way to verify a user’s age. The eSafety Commissioner is overseeing these trials and will provide the final technical standards that platforms must follow.
The transition period allows companies one year to integrate these systems before full enforcement begins. During this time, there is an ongoing debate regarding the technical feasibility and privacy implications of such a broad mandate. Critics argue that age verification could lead to increased data collection and that tech-savvy minors may use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions by appearing to access the platforms from outside Australian jurisdiction.
Impact on the digital landscape
The introduction of this ban is expected to significantly alter the digital habits of millions of Australian teenagers. While the law targets traditional social media, it excludes “low-risk” digital services such as YouTube, online gaming platforms, and messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal, which are deemed necessary for educational and basic communication purposes. This distinction is intended to protect children from algorithm-driven “infinite scroll” content while maintaining access to useful digital tools.
The Australian move is being closely watched by other nations considering similar restrictions. As of early 2026, several European countries and some states in the U.S. have begun drafting their own versions of age-based social media restrictions. The success or failure of Australia’s enforcement—particularly its ability to handle VPN-based circumvention—will likely serve as a blueprint for future global digital safety regulations.
