Australia will enforce a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16 starting December 10. The government added Reddit and livestreaming service Kick to its list of restricted platforms, joining Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
Communications Minister Anika Wells announced that all platforms must take “reasonable steps” to block underage users or face penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.3 million). “We have met with several social media companies in the past month,” Wells said. “They now know there is no excuse for ignoring this law.”
She added, “These platforms use advanced technology to target children with precision. We are asking them to use that same technology to protect children instead.”
Enforcement and Research to Track Impact
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will oversee the law’s enforcement. She confirmed the list of restricted platforms will evolve as new technologies emerge. The government classified these nine services as having a “primary or significant purpose of enabling online social interaction.”
Inman Grant said her office will collaborate with researchers to assess the policy’s effects. “We will measure whether children sleep better, interact more, or become more active,” she explained. “We’ll also examine any unintended consequences and gather evidence for global learning.”
The ban, a world-first, positions Australia as a global leader in regulating children’s access to digital platforms.
Global Praise and Domestic Debate
International leaders have praised Australia’s decisive action. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in September that she felt “inspired” by Australia’s “common sense” approach to online safety. Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia, Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, also said her government would “closely study” the policy as it considers its own child protection measures.
However, critics argue the rule could harm privacy for all users, as platforms must verify age through identity checks. More than 140 academics signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year, warning that an age ban was “too blunt an instrument to address online risks effectively.”
Minister Wells insisted the government aims to protect privacy while enforcing the rule. “We will ensure users’ personal data remains as private as possible,” she said. “Our goal is to keep children safe without exposing anyone to unnecessary data collection.”
