Australia is set to be the first in the world to impose a social media restriction aimed at minors, with the deadline approaching in just a few days. However, numerous technology companies involved have not yet disclosed how they plan to enact this change, and at least one has indicated it will do so after the cutoff date.
Significant questions persist regarding the identification and suspension of accounts belonging to underage users following the new regulations, but experts advise that guardians should begin discussions now to equip their children for what’s to come.
The government is set to enforce the Social Media Minimum Age requirement as of December 10, mandating specific online platforms to take "reasonable measures" to prohibit Australian children under 16 from maintaining accounts on their sites.
This limitation will affect both new and current social media accounts across ten platforms specified by the eSafety Commissioner, which includes services like YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit.
While a few technology firms have shared their strategies for implementing these changes, others, such as Google and X, have not made their plans public yet.
According to Catherine Page Jeffery, an expert in media and communications at the University of Sydney, the lack of clarity has left some children questioning if the announced restrictions will actually occur.
“It seems that some youngsters might not completely realize that this will be enforced unless they’ve gotten some sort of notification,” she mentioned.
“Parents ought to engage in conversations with their kids to ensure they have set up alternative methods to keep in touch with their friends. ”
In November, Meta began alerting Australian accounts identified as being under 16, announcing it would delete accounts a week before the mandated deadline.
Snapchat started cautioning potential underage users about the risk of account deletion over two weeks prior to the ban, while a spokesperson for TikTok indicated the firm would comply with deactivating accounts as needed.
“Leading up to the December 10 deadline, we will provide information to assist parents and their teenagers in understanding these alterations,” she stated.
However, although the game-streaming platform Twitch committed to preventing users under 16 from registering accounts starting December 10, it noted that it would not disable existing underage accounts until January 9.
Other platforms such as YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and X have yet to clarify how they will adjust.
Page Jeffery pointed out that this lack of clarity is causing confusion within families, leading to worries that the transition could be disorganized.
“We will have to see how this unfolds, as I doubt there will be an abrupt cessation on December 10,” she remarked.
The eSafety Commissioner advises that social media users who are under 16 download their information from the platforms they utilize and think about exploring other services before the ban takes effect.
Parents are encouraged to engage in discussions with their kids prior to the removal of accounts, according to Marie Yap, a professor at Monash School of Psychological Sciences, to evaluate how their children will handle the transition.
“Some kids might be completely indifferent to this situation since it doesn’t impact them, while others, particularly those aged 15, may have been entrenched in the social media landscape for years, and see it as part of their reality,” she explained.
“This can be quite overwhelming, disorienting, and lead to significant anxiety. ”
Yap emphasized that calm discussions regarding the social media prohibition are crucial, urging parents to be supportive and inquisitive while refraining from sharing their own views about the ban.
“This presents an excellent chance for discussions that some families may have never had, since kids began using social media, and it was too late to remove it,” she remarked.
“Families can view this as a pivotal moment to say, whether we like it or not, this change is happening, so let’s collaborate. ”
How platforms will enforce the social media ban
Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: Meta will start deactivating accounts of Australian users under 16 starting this Thursday, ahead of the official ban, and will prohibit them from establishing new accounts. Users wrongly categorized as underage will have the option to confirm their age through the third-party service Yoti or submit government-issued identification.
Snapchat: The image-sharing service will lock accounts beginning December 10. Users can ascertain their age by either taking a selfie for age assessment with k-ID, entering bank details via ConnectID, or uploading a government-issued ID to the platform.
Twitch: The gaming platform owned by Amazon will stop Australian users under 16 from opening accounts on December 10 and will initiate the deactivation of underage accounts on January 9, 2026.
TikTok: According to a spokesperson, the video-sharing platform will employ “various technologies and indicators to verify someone's age” and will disable accounts for users identified as underage on December 10. Those mistakenly categorized as being under 16 will have the ability to contest this decision, although the appeals process specifics have not been disclosed.
Platforms that have not yet announced compliance strategies include YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and X.
What families should do to prepare for the ban
Archive: Many platforms, including Instagram and Snapchat, provide options to save photos, videos, and messages from accounts. Teens are advised to request their data download a week prior to the cut-off date since it may take time to gather.
Verify: Users who are incorrectly labeled as under 16 should confirm their age with the platforms upon receiving alerts to prevent account deactivation.
Diversify: The eSafety Commissioner suggests exploring and utilizing alternative applications ahead of the ban to maintain communication with friends. Options not affected by the restrictions include YouTube Kids, LEGO Play, Messenger, WhatsApp, Discord, and Steam.
Discuss: Families should engage in conversations about the alterations to social media accessibility and how to find safe alternatives to maintain connections with friends.
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