Australia just slammed the door on social media for anyone under 16. This is a massive, world-first move that goes into effect on December 10. Teenagers are mad about it. Tech companies—even Meta—are already rushing to scrub accounts.2 The thing is, this law puts the entire burden of proof and compliance on the tech giants, not the kids.
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Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban: What’s In, What’s Out
This is the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024. The government says the move is necessary to shield children from online bullying, anxiety amplification, and predators. An estimated 440,000 Australian teens between 13 and 15 are on Snapchat alone. That’s a huge shift.
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What is Banned (The Social Platforms)
These are the sites primarily built for social interaction and public content sharing.7 If a platform fails to take “reasonable steps” to verify and remove under-16 users, the fine is huge—up to A$49.5 million (about $33 million USD).8
| Platform Type | Examples Banned | Compliance Action |
| Social Networks | Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Reddit | Accounts being deleted or frozen; users urged to download photos. |
| Video/Streaming | TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, Kick | Platforms must verify age using new tech (video selfies, third-party checks). |
What is Not Banned (The Utility Platforms)
The government is not shutting down all online communication. Platforms primarily used for messaging or gaming were deemed exempt.
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Exempt Platforms: Discord, Messenger (Facebook), Roblox, WhatsApp, YouTube Kids, and Pinterest.10
The Problem: Teens Are Already Looking for Workarounds
Teens have condemned the ban. A large survey showed three-quarters of children intend to continue using social media anyway.
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The Challenge: Two 15-year-olds have even filed a legal suit in New South Wales, arguing the ban infringes on their freedom of expression.
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The Parental Role (Messy Reality): The law does not punish young people or their parents.11 The government is penalizing the platforms. This split cause-effect is interesting: the law targets tech giants. And then parents will inevitably try to help their kids circumvent the new rules using their own credentials.
Tech companies like Meta and Google are now scrambling.12 They are deploying new age-verification technologies—sometimes using video selfies or third-party checks—but they must offer alternatives to government-issued ID.13 The legal challenge is still ongoing, but the deadline is firm.
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