Australia is bringing in a new law to keep kids off social media. But children who break the rules won’t be punished.
No Penalties for Kids or Parents
From December 10, 2025, anyone under 16 will be banned from using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. This applies even if they already have an account or their parents approve.
But the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, says kids won’t face penalties. Parents won’t either.
Platforms Will Be Held Responsible
Instead, social media companies will carry the burden. If they don’t take steps to block underage users, they could face fines of up to $49.5 million per breach.
Inman Grant says the goal is to protect children, not cut them off from the internet completely.
A “Delay,” Not a Total Ban
The Commissioner called the law a “social media delay,” not a full ban. She said kids’ accounts won’t disappear overnight.
The focus is on stopping the harmful design features that hook children into using these apps.
YouTube May Be Included
Originally, YouTube was left out of the ban for its educational value. But new research shows it may expose children to harmful content like hate speech, violent videos, and disordered eating.
Inman Grant has now recommended that YouTube be included in the ban.
Tech Companies Push Back
YouTube says the decision ignores how widely it’s used in schools. In fact, 84% of teachers in Australia use it in classrooms.
They argue it’s more like a video site than a social media platform.
What’s Next?
Details like how age checks will work are still being worked out. But the message is clear: tech companies, not kids, will face the consequences if the rules are broken.
