Australia has drawn a hard line on underage social media use. Under a new law, kids under 16 will lose access to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and now Reddit, too.
All major platforms have been told to block accounts belonging to under-16 users by 10 December, when the rule officially kicks in. Any company that doesn’t follow through risks a hefty penalty of up to A$49.5 million.
The decision didn’t come out of nowhere. Australia has been dealing with a steady rise in online harm complaints, especially involving teens. Communications Minister Anika Wells on Wednesday said she expected teething problems in the first few days and weeks of the ban, but it was about protecting Gen Alpha - anyone under 15 years - and future generations.
But here’s the thing, the people feeling it most aren’t lawmakers or tech companies. It’s the kids. Overnight, under-16s are being pushed out of platforms that have shaped their social lives, routines, and identities for years.
For many teens, social media isn’t just entertainment; it’s a community. And in places like Australia, platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have also become early earning avenues for young creators who run small channels, review products, or grow niche hobby pages. For them, this ban isn’t just a rule change. It’s a sudden stop to something they’ve built for years.
How does this ban work?
Even after the ban, kids under 16 will still be able to use a few platforms like Messenger and YouTube without logging in. So they can watch non-restricted videos, but they can’t comment, post, or create anything of their own.
In simple terms, they’re allowed to be spectators, not participants. It’s like handing them a burger and saying they can smell it but not touch or eat it.
A report from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner showed that four out of five kids between eight and twelve had used at least one social media platform in 2024. That alone tells you how deeply these platforms are woven into their daily lives.
Why Lawmakers Believe Kids Aren’t Safe Online
Protection from Harm
Underexposure to social media, underage children are constantly bombarded with inappropriate content like cyberbullying, hateful content, and online predators. Such content not only consumes the majority of their time but also harms their mental health. Restricting access will help to safeguard their psychological and emotional well-being.
Healthy development
The ban is also expected to reduce screen time and help kids use their time more intentionally. Many children have fallen out of the habit of moving their bodies, going outdoors, or spending time with friends and family. Limiting social media gives them space to reconnect with real-world experiences.
Privacy Invasion and Data Misuse
One of the biggest concerns is how much personal data kids unknowingly give away online. Every tap, scroll, location tag, and message leaves a digital trace. Even when a child isn’t posting publicly, the platform still tracks behavioural patterns, preferences, device details, and browsing habits.
The issue is simple: minors don’t fully understand what they’re agreeing to. This move was to prevent children from becoming data sources before they even understand what “privacy” means.
But while the government sees this as protection, kids see something very different. For many of them, this ban doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like losing their voice, and two teenagers have already taken that fight to the High Court.
Teens' reaction to the Ban:
Two 15-year-old Australian kids, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, have taken the federal government to the Australian High Court, challenging the country’s incoming social media ban for under-16s. According to them, this ban is taking away their right to communicate.
The kids strongly oppose the ban by putting forth their views.
Noah said young teens were the "true digital natives" who "want to remain educated, robust, and savvy in our digital world".
"We're disappointed in a lazy government that blanket bans under-16s rather than investing in programs to help kids be safe on social media," he said.
Macy said young people were the "voters of tomorrow" and should not be banned from expressing their views.
"If you personally think that kids shouldn't be on social media, stay off it yourself, but don't impose it on my peers and me," she said.
Australian media have previously reported that Google, which owns YouTube, has also been considering launching a constitutional challenge.
A survey was done on more than 17,000 Australian kids under 16. The responses were:
"I think that parents should be the people deciding whether their children are on social media. I also think that it's a waste of money as teenagers will find a way around it." — Anonymous, 14
"I feel like it's just a useless thing to do, cutting off kids who are under 16+ who have dreams of being big creators when they grow up is kinda mean, those kids have been dreaming since forever. It's useless and kinda cruel." — Anonymous, 11
"I think that they should focus on health care instead of taking kids' source of joy away. I myself use Snapchat and TikTok to create plans with my friends, and I think it's just pointless and they should back off and focus on the bigger problems, or they should create boundaries." — Anonymous, 11
While a small group supports the ban, the majority of teens are strongly against it. Many feel their basic freedom to learn, connect, and discover is being taken away.
Are there Alternative Options?
Are there better options? Probably. Everyone agrees kids need stronger protection online, but an outright ban on social media for under-16s swings too far. There are ways to reduce harm without creating a new set of problems for families, schools, and even the kids themselves.
One idea is to focus on the gatekeepers. Instead of going after platforms, the government could require app stores to build in stronger age checks, maybe even a double-verification system. It tackles the root of the issue without stripping away other rights in the process.
The social media companies must take reasonable steps to make their products safe for children and young people. Introducing a legal duty of care would be a proactive way to increase the accountability of social media companies and improve online safety for everybody.
Educational Initiatives such as Digital Literacy Programs could also be useful. Collaborating with educational institutions to teach children about safe online practices, critical thinking, and recognizing harmful content could prove beneficial.
Along with this, parents can make their children understand the right usage of the platforms. Young people should be taught to think critically about what they see online and how they engage with social media. Parents and teachers also need better tools and resources to help them provide appropriate guidance and support.
Collaboration between the government, tech companies, parents, and educators is essential to develop balanced solutions that protect children while allowing them to benefit from digital engagement. A total ban on underage users is not the only solution.