Australia Sets 16-Year Age Limit for Social Media Use, Cites Child Safety Concerns
Story: written by Joseph November 10,2025
Australia has introduced a new policy that bars children below 16 from using social media platforms.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said the decision is aimed at shielding young people from online risks.
The restriction is part of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which will officially take effect on December 10, 2025.
According to the government, the law seeks to protect minors from cyberbullying, harmful content, exploitation, and the addictive design of social media algorithms.
Once the rule becomes active, anyone under 16 will be prohibited from opening or operating accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, and Kick.
Albanese, while confirming the development in a post on X on Monday, said the priority is the safety of children online.
His message read:
