Australia’s under-16 social media minimum age rules take effect, forcing major platforms to block teen accounts

On 10-Dec-2025, Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age rules took effect under amendments to the Online Safety Act, requiring age-restricted social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping accounts. Australia launched what it described as a world-first, hard-line shift in online safety policy: instead of penalizing children or parents, the law places the burden on platforms to remove or prevent under-16 accounts - and to prove compliance when asked. The eSafety Commissioner’s guidance listed major platforms expected to comply, including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Threads, Kick, and Twitch. The change also drew debate over practicality and privacy, because platforms may rely on “age assurance” approaches to determine whether an account holder is under 16. Regulators highlighted privacy safeguards around how any age-assurance data must be handled, while critics argued the policy could be circumvented or push teens toward less visible corners of the internet. Key details: - Minimum age: 16 (accounts for under-16s must be blocked/removed) - Who is liable: Platforms (not teens or parents) - Enforcement: eSafety Commissioner can seek information and pursue penalties - Max penalties: up to 150,000 penalty units (reported as ~A$49.5–50 million) - Platforms publicly flagged as “age-restricted”: Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube.