Social media ban in Australia comes into effect: Young people lose accounts

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In Australia, the world's first comprehensive ban on social media for under-16s will come into effect on December 10, 2025. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, and TikTok will then have to remove accounts of users under 16 and prevent new registrations from this age group. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (equivalent to around 28 million euros) for the operators.

In recent weeks, the platforms have carried out hundreds of thousands of age verifications to comply with legal requirements. For Snapchat alone, the parent company Snap Inc. estimates around 440,000 Australian users between the ages of 13 and 15.

Various methods for age verification

The technical implementation will be carried out using various methods for age verification. These range from verification via Australian bank accounts and identity documents such as passports or driver's licenses to age estimation via facial recognition. In a blog post, Apple informed app developers about ways to identify younger users in order to comply with the ban.

However, the first technical problems are already emerging: The Guardian received several reports from under-16s who had successfully bypassed facial recognition. The Australian government admits that the system will not be perfect from the outset. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized in an opinion piece that the clear legal message is more important than 100% enforcement – similar to the age limit for alcohol.

X remains silent, Bluesky participates voluntarily

As of Tuesday, all affected platforms except X had confirmed that they would implement the ban. According to the Australian government, X also intends to do so. YouTube had already outlined its approach at the beginning of December, protesting and criticizing that the hastily passed regulation misunderstands the platform.

Interestingly, Bluesky also announced that it would block under-16s, even though the eSafety authority had classified the X alternative as a "low risk" due to its small user base of only 50,000 Australians and it was not on the list of banned platforms.

Divided reactions among parents and young people

Reactions from affected families vary widely. One mother told The Guardian that her 15-year-old daughter was "very desperate" because all her 14- to 15-year-old friends were verified as adults by Snapchat, while she herself was identified as a minor. The mother fears social isolation, as her friends will continue to use Snapchat for communication and organizing meetings.

One father admitted he had to teach his child "how to break the law": He showed his daughter how VPNs work and other methods to circumvent age restrictions. Other parents, however, expressly welcome the ban. One mother said her daughter was "completely addicted" to social media and the ban offered "a supportive framework."

International observation and imitators

Australia's initiative has attracted worldwide attention. Several countries have already announced similar bans, including Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway. Denmark agreed on a minimum age of 15 years at the beginning of November, although parents can give their consent for children aged 13. The EU Parliament adopted a resolution at the end of November advocating for an EU-wide minimum age of 16 for social media. A spokesperson for the British government told Reuters that they are "closely" monitoring Australia's approach.

(mki)