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what social media is getting banned in australia

Australia is not banning social media entirely, but it has brought in a world‑first law that effectively bans major platforms for users under 16 years old.

Quick Scoop

  • The ban targets users under 16 in Australia, not adults.
  • It applies to a list of major social media platforms, which must delete or block under‑16 accounts or face heavy fines.
  • The move is framed as protecting kids from online harms, but it is highly controversial and being closely watched globally.

Which social media apps are affected?

Australia has identified a group of large platforms that must stop under‑16s from having accounts and remove existing under‑16 profiles.

These include:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • X (formerly Twitter)
  • Snapchat
  • Reddit
  • Twitch
  • Kick

Tech companies behind these services can face fines up to around A$50 million (about US$33 million) if they do not take “reasonable steps” to enforce the ban on under‑16 users.

Some apps and services aimed at messaging or education, such as Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom and YouTube Kids, are expected to fall outside this ban.

What does “banned” actually mean?

For people under 16 in Australia, the law means:

  • Platforms must:
    • Deactivate or delete existing accounts believed to belong to under‑16s
    • Block new sign‑ups from users under 16
    • Use “age assurance” tools (like facial age checks or data analysis) to identify likely under‑16s
  • If companies do not comply, they risk very large financial penalties from the regulator.

This is not a total national shutdown of these apps; adults and those 16+ can still use them.

Why is Australia doing this?

The government pitches the law as a way to reduce the risks social media poses to children. Concerns include:

  • Algorithms designed to keep kids online for long periods
  • Exposure to harmful or distressing content
  • Impacts on mental health and wellbeing

Supporters say:

  • Parents struggle to control apps that are engineered to be addictive.
  • A clear legal ban makes platforms finally take youth safety seriously.
  • Other countries may copy this model if it is seen as successful.

Critics argue:

  • It may push teens to less regulated platforms or workarounds.
  • Age‑verification tech can be invasive, inaccurate, or easy to bypass.
  • It raises free‑speech and youth‑rights questions and may not fix underlying content problems.

How are people reacting?

Public and online reactions are mixed and often intense.

Common viewpoints include:

  1. “Necessary protection”
    • Many parents and child‑safety advocates welcome the move as overdue.
 * They see it as putting responsibility on big tech, not just families.
  1. “Wrong target”
    • Teenagers and some experts say the focus should be on removing harmful content and reforming algorithms, not locking young people out altogether.
 * Some argue it treats all social media use as harmful, even when used for support, learning, or community.
  1. “Unworkable and messy”
    • Forum discussions highlight confusion, patchy enforcement, and ways some under‑16s appear to be slipping through age checks or using alternative clients/apps.
 * There are debates about whether the law will be enforceable at scale or mostly symbolic.

TL;DR: In Australia, major social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Twitch, Threads and Kick are effectively banned for under‑16s through a new law that forces companies to block and remove those accounts or face large fines, while adults can still use them normally.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.