Australia bans social media for under-16s

Social Media Age Restrictions – Information for Schools and Families

From 10 December 2025, new social media age restrictions will come into effect across Australia. These changes are designed to help children under 16 develop important online safety skills and maturity before using social media platforms.

What’s Changing

Under the new rules, certain social media platforms will no longer be allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

Quick Facts

• The restrictions are expected to apply to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (Twitter) and YouTube, among others.
  (Check the eSafety website for the latest list of affected platforms.)
• Under-16s will still be able to view public content that doesn’t require logging in.
• Schools may need to explore alternative ways to communicate with parents and students online.
• Educational platforms such as Google Classroom and YouTube Kids will not be restricted. Teachers can still share videos that don’t require login access.

Support and Resources from the eSafety Commissioner

The eSafety Commissioner has launched a dedicated Social Media Age Restrictions Hub to help educators, parents, carers and young people prepare for these changes.

Here’s what’s available:

• FAQs:
  Find clear answers to common questions about the new rules and how they affect schools, parents and students.
• Webinars for Educators:
  Free 30-minute sessions designed for teachers and youth professionals. Learn what the new legislation means for schools and how to support students during the transition.
  (You can register via the eSafety website.)
• Classroom Support:
  eSafety’s Classroom Tech Agreement has been updated to include the new social media age limits.
• Student Resources:
  Guides and resources to help under-16s understand the changes, prepare for them, and manage wellbeing and online safety.
• Educator Toolkit:
  A comprehensive kit including posters, flyers, action plans, and newsletter/social media templates to help schools communicate the changes clearly.
  (These resources will also be available in Connect Discover.)

Ongoing Support

The Department is working closely with the eSafety Commissioner to support schools during this transition.
Further updates and resources will be shared as they become available.