is TikTok banned for under-16s in Australia?
TikTok is age-restricted — under 16 cannot hold an account. category: short-form video.
why is TikTok banned?
TikTok is one of the 10 platforms classified as age-restricted under the Act. eSafety has specifically named TikTok as one of the five platforms under active compliance investigation in March 2026, alongside Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
what changes for TikTok
TikTok must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping an account. By mid-December 2025, the platform had already started removing existing accounts belonging to under-16 Australians. New sign-ups from Australia must pass age assurance before the account is active.
what happens to existing under-16 accounts
Existing accounts held by Australians under 16 are being deactivated. Videos and followings on those accounts are not accessible to the account holder while deactivated. Teens can download their data before deactivation.
what parents should do
- •if your child is under 16, their TikTok account will be removed — help them save any content they want to keep
- •explain that this is the law, not a TikTok decision — other countries haven't done this
- •don't try to lie about their age to create a new account; TikTok is rolling out age assurance and falsifying could close the account permanently
- •discuss alternatives: YouTube Kids for video, Roblox for social gaming, Messenger Kids or group texts for staying in touch with friends
- •expect teens to look for workarounds (VPNs, older siblings' accounts) — 4 in 5 Australian teens evaded the ban in the first 3 months per reported data
alternatives for under-16s
- •YouTube Kids (under 13)
- •Roblox
- •Minecraft
- •messaging apps (WhatsApp, Messenger) with friends
law: Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024
started: 10 December 2025
regulator: eSafety Commissioner
platform penalty: up to $49.5 million
sources
view the full social media ban guide
all banned and exempt platforms, parent guidance, enforcement status
this guide summarises the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 as it applied on 23 april 2026. eSafety may reclassify services; check eSafety Commissioner for the current platform list. mini mode is not affiliated with any government agency or platform.