Under 16s social media ban: Your ultimate guide to navigating new restrictions

A social media ban, or “delay” as the Albanese government prefers to call it, will come into effect in less than two weeks.

The ban from December 10 signals a huge change to the way children use social media.

Age restrictions will stop users under the age of 16 from creating or keeping social media accounts in a push to improve the safety of young people online.

The evolving plan has many moving pieces, and understanding how it works can be confusing — here is everything you need to know about the restrictions.

What social media platforms are restricted?

The social media platforms that will be making age restriction changes under the first stage of the ban are Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube.

While there has been uncertainty around that list in the months leading up to the ban, it is not expected to change again before the Social Media Minimum Age obligation (SMMA obligation) comes into effect on December 10.

These platforms are considered by eSafety to be “age-restricted social media platforms” and will be held to the SMMA obligation, but they do not necessarily share the eSafety Commissioner’s views.

Some of the platforms which are not on the list include Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids.

But that is not to say they never will be. As time goes on, more platforms will emerge, existing ones will develop new features, and so the list is expected to grow.

When will accounts be cut?

While the SMMA obligation comes into effect on December 10, platforms have already begun sending notifications to young users, and some platforms will begin deactivating accounts in the days before the bans takes effect.

Meta, for example, will begin its deactivation of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts held by under 16s from December 4.

Notifications from companies such as Meta and Snapchat have given their young users a fortnight to download their digital memories, and users over the age of 16 the chance to submit proof of age via third-party ID verification methods.

What can under 16s still do on the restricted platforms?

There are still some functions and features available to young people on the age-restricted social media platforms.

Any content that is publicly available, and therefore does not require an account to access, can still be seen by users under the age of 16 — most videos on YouTube fall into this category.

“This means that if you’re under 16 you can still search for and watch videos, read posts and find information — as long as the platform you’re using allows access without logging into an account,” eSafety said.

Users under the age of 16 will not be able to use their existing accounts on age-restricted platforms after December 10, but some platforms might offer the option to deactivate accounts in a way that will allow them to be reactivated when the user turns 16.

Why are the accounts being restricted?

While there are many positive benefits to gain from using social media, it can also expose users to harmful features.

Constant notifications, stories that disappear, and algorithmic content are all strategies used to keep users from looking away from the screen, even when the content is negative, upsetting or manipulative.

This can impact stress levels, sleep, and prompt users to make unhealthy comparisons between themselves and those they see online — the under 16s restrictions are being put in place to protect against these negative impacts.

It is hoped that by promoting less screen time, young people will be encouraged to build emotional, social and digital skills offline, so they can come to social media already equipped with the skills needed to recognise harm.

Will under 16s get in trouble for accessing social media?

No person under the age of 16 will be punished if they are caught sneaking into an account on the age-restricted social media platforms.

The ban is in place to bring the hammer down on the companies responsible for the harmful digital features, not those who use them.

However, SMMA obligation aside, adults who help children to get around the age restrictions by providing their own ID, should be aware they could be held responsible under other laws if something sinister occurred to that child online.

Handling breaches and errors

Any users who are over the age of 16 and have their accounts removed or deactivated in error, or as a result of a false report claiming they are underage, should be given the opportunity by the platform to request a review to fix the issue.

Advice by eSafety suggests heading to the “help” or “support” section of the platform in question. However, it is unclear at this stage how swift practical support for such deactivations will be.

The ban itself will be co-regulated by eSafety, and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) which will enforce the Online Safety Act 2021.

Age-restricted social media platforms could face penalties of $49.5 million if they don’t stop users under the age of 16 from making accounts.

The OAIC will also oversee reports made to eSafety and ensure compliance of the ban, alongside privacy provisions which apply to the platforms and their third party age assurance providers. More information about keeping your information same can be found here.

For more information about the social media restrictions for under 16s, check out the eSafety website.