The Australian Government is taking a firm stance on online safety, especially for younger users.
Under the updated Online Safety Act 2021, new age restrictions will require social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts by December 2025.
This move signals a shift in responsibility from parents and guardians to service providers, placing the onus on platforms to enforce protections. While most social media platforms currently set the minimum user age at 13, enforcement has long been inconsistent and, in many cases, ineffective.
According to the eSafety Commissioner, the changes aim to mitigate risks associated with exposure to potentially harmful content and addictive features like continuous notifications. These digital design elements have been shown to negatively affect sleep, concentration and mental wellbeing in younger users.
Social media platforms will be expected to introduce systems that accurately verify user ages and prevent those under 16 from accessing their services. These processes must comply with forthcoming guidelines from eSafety, which will be shaped by consultation with young people, parents, carers and educators.
Importantly, there are no penalties for underage users who manage to access restricted platforms. Instead, the focus is on holding service providers accountable. Those that fail to implement reasonable safeguards may face serious civil penalties. The government has also expanded its powers to request compliance data from platforms and to conduct regular enforcement.
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Implementation will be staggered. After the law’s passage in December 2024, consultations began in May 2025, with trial findings published in June. The social media age restriction will formally take effect within 12 months of the law’s enactment, with a formal review scheduled two years later.
Although concerns have been raised about restricting young people’s access to digital spaces, eSafety maintains that the law balances online safety with broader rights, such as digital participation and privacy. Resources and guidance for young Australians are already being developed to support a smoother transition.
Parents and carers also play a vital role. Open conversations about social media use, digital boundaries and emotional wellbeing are encouraged. Support services, along with tailored advice from organisations like headspace, are readily available to help families navigate the changes.
The broader strategy also includes industry codes for preventing access to age-inappropriate content and design expectations that prioritise child safety. This approach forms part of the government’s vision for a safer online environment, where protections are built in from the start, not bolted on later.
As the rollout continues, communicators will play a key role in clearly explaining the rules, supporting families and holding platforms accountable—ensuring that digital safety remains front and centre in Australia’s public conversation.
