The contentious social media ban for under-16s in Australia, is set to come into action on the 10th of December 2025. With this date approaching, it is vital to understand what this means for those affected by the ban, as well as other major points of discussion that question its viability.
What platforms does the ban target?
The ban affects many social messaging apps that are popular among young people, such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. However, platforms such as YouTube Kids, Google Classroom and LinkedIn will be exempt. Notably, gaming social platforms such as Twitch and Discord will be exempt, sparking debate due to their respective controversies regarding the cyber safety of their young users.
The age-checking process
The Labor Government has proposed multiple ways to verify if a user is above the age of sixteen, namely the utilization of facial detection technologies, ID checks and existing pattern recognition that stems from data already collected from the user’s activity. Importantly, it will not be up to the parents or children to enforce these bans, but it will be up to companies, who are incentivized by the avoidance of a hefty fine if they do not comply and integrate effective methods to block under-16s from accessing their platform.
Discrepancies in the ban
Many individuals and groups have voiced their dissatisfaction when it comes to how the ban is enforced, especially regarding its easily penetrable nature. For instance, the facial recognition technology employed by the affected social media platforms are still juvenile and are open to error, with studies showing that a simple rubber mask can allow under-16s to bypass the age check, thus creating a large fault margin above and below the age of 16. Furthermore, the Government has not outlined how the ban would respond to the usage of VPNs, that provide the user with a different location, hence excusing them from the ban. Most of all, there are significant privacy concerns associated with the ban, as many people are not comfortable providing their private information (through the form of IDs) to these online services.