Australia’s social media ban for children aged under 16 has finally come into effect.
From December 10, under-16s were kicked out of their social media accounts as part of stringent new measures in the country.
Tech companies have also had to create measures to ensure that no children can sign up or re-join until they turn 16.
But what does the world-first ban mean and how will it be enforced?
Scroll on for everything you need to know.
What is the social media ban?
The social media ban aims to protect young people from online harms and reduce mental health issues.
Australia is the first country in the world to bring in such measures, and the government has admitted it won’t be perfect at first.
The ban includes TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, Threads and Kick, and could be expanded to include new platforms.
The government’s list of age-restricted apps is expected to grow in the coming weeks, with Australia’s online safety watchdog looking for other platforms that fit the criteria.
Lemon8 and Yope have already been put on notice after experiencing an increase in popularity as young people have sought out alternative platforms to use.
“This is the day where Australian families are taking back power from the big tech companies, and they’re asserting the right of kids to be kids and for parents to have better peace of mind,” Anthony Albanese told ABC News of the ban.
How will the social media ban be enforced?
Tech companies will be required to monitor if they are likely to come under the restrictions.
From now on, affected social media platforms will face penalties of up to $50 million if they don’t take “reasonable” steps to prevent under-16s from holding accounts on their sites.
Platforms can attempt to verify a user’s age by examining their social media profile, using AI tools to estimate age based on a user’s appearance, or by requesting a government-issued ID for verification.
However, platforms are prohibited from compelling users to provide ID and must also offer an alternative option.
As the ban comes into force, there are likely to be hiccups with some over 16s accidentally being kicked off social media and many under 16s trying to sneak back on.
Some platforms may allow users to reactivate their accounts when they turn 16, but it is not guaranteed.
How effective will the social media ban be?
Some have questioned how the ban will be effectively enforced, citing privacy risks if the platforms use measures such as selfies for facial age recognition. There’s also the concern that it could encourage under-16s to use less regulated platforms.
Jake Moore, the global cybersecurity adviser for software company ESET, tells New Idea, “While the new measures have good intentions, the trade-offs in privacy and the potential for unintended consequences raise concerns.”
People under 16 will still be able to view publicly available social media content that doesn’t require a log-in.
Though there are question marks over how effective the ban will be, the Australian government has insisted it is worth trying in a bid to protect children from harms such as cyberbullying and grooming.
What have parents said about the social media ban?
The move has been celebrated by thousands of parents Australia-wide, not least Emma Mason and Mia Bannister, who see social media as responsible for their teenage children taking their own lives.
Emma’s 15-year-old daughter, Matilda ‘Tilly’, died by suicide in 2022, after being bullied online.
Speaking exclusively to New Idea and 7NEWS, Emma says social media is the “social experiment we didn’t sign up for”.
“It destroyed my child. It destroys lots of children,” she says.
“The whole point of the legislation isn’t to ban social media – it’s to delay it. Allowing children time to grow up.”
Describing social media as “heroin for kids”, both Emma and Mia feel enormous guilt for unknowingly putting their children in harm’s way. They hope the ban will prevent other parents going through the horrors they’ve endured.
“I thought it was connection, we could stay in touch. But I handed him a weapon essentially. That’s what I did,” Mia says. Her 14-year-old son, Oliver ‘Ollie’, took his own life in 2024, after developing an eating disorder that was fed by videos on his social media.
“This has to be pursued. It has to work. For our kids’ sake,” Emma says of the ban. “We know [social media] affects children’s mental health, their levelsof anxiety and depression.
“We know it affects their body image and their connection… We’re going to win this because we have to win this. We have to protect our children.”
Of course, not everyone is happy about the ban, particularly the tweens and teens who’ve forged a career via their social media platforms. Some are taking drastic measures.
The Empire family, which includes mums Beck and Bec Lea, and their children Charlotte ‘Charli’, 14, and Prezley, 17, are leaving Australia and moving to the UK to protect what they’ve built.
The family has more than six million followers across their different accounts which earns them a six-figure income.
“When it became clear that the ban really was coming, we knew – we’ve got to find a solution. Charli loves being online,” Bec said in a video.
“We understand that it is protecting young people from harm on the internet, but we use the internet for good,” Beck added, saying they are not against the social media ban but that they had to find a workaround.
As the ban comes into force, there are likely to be hiccups with some over 16s accidentally being kicked off social media and many under 16s trying to sneak back on. But while it might start as a work in progress, Mia and Emma are unapologetic about any frustrations it could cause.
“They truly believe their small part in creating these new laws could genuinely save this generation of kids – and the many to follow,” 7NEWS Chief Reporter Chris Reason tells New Idea.
“They are determined to do this for Tilly and Ollie – so that something good comes from their immense loss.”
7NEWS presented Explaining the Social Media Ban.
