Australia Social Media Minimum Age Act
AustraliaHigh threatThe world's first under-16 social media ban, in force: ten platforms must keep minors out or face fines near A$50 million, and parental consent is no defense.
Latest update
Ban took effect across ten designated platforms
Take action
Learn about the issue and how to make your position known.
Take action on this issueWhat it does
Passed in November 2024 and in force since December 10, 2025, the Act requires age-restricted platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from holding accounts, with penalties up to A$49.5 million. Parents cannot consent around it. The eSafety Commissioner has designated YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, Threads, and Kick as covered, and platforms verify age at signup, which reaches every user.
What’s at stake
This is the law the rest of the world cites: Canada's C-34, Denmark's plan, and the EU's digital-majority push all point at Australia as proof it can be done. The first national experiment in carding an entire population for social media is running now, and its enforcement record becomes everyone else's evidence.
Our take
Australia volunteered to show that keeping teenagers off Instagram requires checking everyone's papers, and governments watching call the demonstration a success by counting blocked accounts rather than the identity infrastructure left behind. Exported, this becomes the norm before the evidence is in.
Timeline
Ban took effect across ten designated platformsLatest
Royal assent
Cleared Parliament
Passed the Senate, 34 to 19
Introduced
Votes
- Senate — Final passage (34 to 19) · November 28, 2024
Suggest a bill or correction
Know a bill we should track, or spot something out of date? Email the bill name, the jurisdiction and a link to an official source.