Australia's under-16 social media ban
this is a fast-moving law. eSafety investigations into five platforms are underway and enforcement decisions are expected by mid-2026. page verified 23 april 2026.
the short version
- •the law: Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, took effect 10 December 2025
- •minimum age to hold an account on a listed platform: 16
- •banned: TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, X, Threads, Reddit, Twitch, Kick
- •exempt: Discord, Roblox, WhatsApp, Messenger, YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, Steam, LinkedIn, Pinterest
- •parental consent does not override the ban
- •platform penalty for non-compliance: up to $49.5 million
what the law actually does
the law places the obligation on the platform, not the user or the parent. age-restricted platforms must take "reasonable steps" to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping an account. there is no fine for a child who tries to sign up, and no legal penalty for a parent whose child is on a banned platform.
the law also does notstop children from viewing content on banned platforms — only from holding an account. an under-16 can still watch YouTube videos without signing in. they just can't subscribe, comment or post.
eSafety Commissioner is the regulator. eSafety maintains the list of age-restricted platforms and reviews services as they emerge or evolve.
banned for under-16s (10 platforms)
read full guide →
read full guide →
read full guide →
read full guide →
read full guide →
exempt — not affected by the ban
read full guide →
read full guide →
plus other services: Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams for Education — educational platforms, LEGO Play — gaming platform, LinkedIn — professional networking, Pinterest — primarily content discovery, not social, GitHub — developer collaboration.
what parents need to do
if your child is under 16 and has a banned account
the account will be deactivated by the platform if not already. help them download their data (photos, messages, videos, followings) before it's gone. most platforms offer a data export in account settings. don't try to work around the ban with fake DOBs — platforms are rolling out age assurance and flagged accounts can be permanently closed.
if your child is close to 16
they'll need to re-create their account after their 16th birthday, and platforms will require age verification (government ID, biometric age estimation, or similar). until then, they can use exempt services to stay in touch.
if your child is well under 16
no rush — but start the conversation early. teens are smart about workarounds (VPNs, older sibling accounts, fake ages). the law applies regardless of VPN; a child caught faking their age may have their account permanently closed.
for everyone: re-direct don't just block
Australian teens reportedly evaded the ban at a high rate in the first 3 months. blocking alone won't work — give them real alternatives. messaging apps for staying in touch, YouTube without an account for watching, gaming platforms for social interaction, creative outlets offline.
enforcement status (as of April 2026)
in late March 2026, Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that the government is investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for potential violations of the ban. children are continuing to retain or create accounts and pass age assurance checks on these platforms.
eSafety expects to make enforcement decisions by mid-2026. platforms found non-compliant face fines up to $49.5 million.
sources
the social media ban is enforced against platforms, not individuals. children and parents cannot be fined. this guide summarises the law as it stood on 23 april 2026; eSafety may reclassify services over time. always check eSafety Commissioner for the current platform list.