From 10 December 2025, a new law will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having a social media account and deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.
It is believed that delaying access to social media accounts until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them 3 more years to build real world connections, online resilience and digital literacy skills before they join global platforms.
This change will reduce access for young people to some of the harmful aspects of social media, such as algorithms that recommend content, infinite scrolling, and other features designed to keep users continuously engaged. The law is intended to capture social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook and YouTube.
But it won’t stop young people from staying in touch with friends online, playing games, learning new things and being entertained. In fact, they will still be able to access messaging apps, online gaming, professional networking and development services, and services that are primarily for the purposes of education and health support.
For more information, and tips for helping under 16s prepare for the change, visit the eSafety website.
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