Starting December 10, 2025, social media companies in Australia will have to ensure that minors under 16 cannot create profiles, and those who have already created accounts will have them deactivated or removed, according to the BBC.
Australia is a pioneer in developing policies to protect the younger population, aiming to reduce the pressure and risks that have become common for children and adolescents. Parents worldwide support this type of measure, especially given the recent discussion about algorithms designed to ensure more exposure to digital content and the nature of that content, with known harms to health and well-being.
The Australian government published a study showing that 96% of the 10-15 year old audience uses social media, and 70% of these individuals have already been exposed to harmful content and behavior. This type of content included misogynistic or violent approaches, and promoting eating disorders or suicide.
Other worrying statistics involve grooming by adults or older children, and cyberbullying.
Ten platforms are already known to be included in the classification: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and the streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.
Gaming platforms are not yet part of the list, although there is pressure for their inclusion. Perhaps anticipating this possibility, Roblox and Discord recently introduced age verification in some features.
According to Australian authorities, there are criteria that define which platforms are included in the concession:
- If the platform’s sole or “significant purpose” is to allow online social interaction between two or more users.
- If it allows users to interact with some or all other users.
- If it allows users to publish content.
YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp were not affected by this measure, as the government didn’t consider that they meet the criteria. Therefore, those under 16 can still watch most content on platforms like YouTube, which does not require an account.
Social media companies are responsible for ensuring the execution of the deletion, meaning that neither children nor parents will be punished for violating the deletion order. Non-compliance implies fines that can reach up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million) for serious or repeated offenses.
Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has already announced that it will begin closing accounts of under 16 users from December 4th. Those who are banned by mistake can use a government-issued ID or provide a video selfie to verify their age, the company informed. Those who have accounts are advised to download their data. Those who do not have profiles will be prevented from creating them.
Snapchat suggests that users use bank accounts or photo IDs to verify their age or take a selfie, which will be used to estimate their age. The platform suggests that users under 16 deactivate their accounts for three years or until they reach the permitted age.
Accordind to CNN, Australia is the first, but similar restrictive measures are already underway. This week, Malaysia became the latest country to join a list that includes Denmark, Norway, and European Union countries, driven by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The United Kingdom foresees multimillion-pound fines for companies that fail to take adequate measures to protect children from sensitive content, through the UK’s Online Safety Act.
In the USA, 20 states have passed laws related to children and social media in 2025. School districts, attorneys general, and numerous citizens across the US have filed a lawsuit against Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, alleging that these platforms incorporate addictive features to generate advertising revenue, to the detriment of children’s mental health.
