As part of Australia’s strengthened approach to online safety, new laws will come into effect on 10 December 2025 that change how young people under 16 can access social media. These changes aim to better protect children from harmful content, data-tracking practices and online interactions that they may not be ready to handle.

What’s Changing?

Under the new legislation, major social media platforms must:

• Prevent under-16s from creating or keeping accounts
• Use stronger age-assurance methods to confirm a user’s age
• Provide clear options for users to download their data, appeal decisions or correct mistakes
• Take “reasonable steps” to ensure under-16s cannot access features designed for account holders.

Which Platforms will be Affected?

For now, the affected platforms are Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter), Threads and Kick.

Some services are not covered by the new law (eg., WhatsApp, Discord, Roblox, Google Classroom) because their primary purpose is messaging, gaming or education. 

How This Affects Your Child

From 10 December:

• Students under 16 may find their existing accounts deactivated or restricted.
• They will still be able to view public content on some platforms without logging in.
• There are no penalties for parents or children. The responsibility for compliance lies with the platforms.

Helpful Resources for Students and Families

To support families through this transition, the eSafety Commissioner has published clear, accessible guides. We strongly encourage all parents and carers to review these:

For Students

• Get-Ready Guide for Under-16s
  https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/social-media-age-restrictions/get-ready-guide.
  A practical guide to help students understand what’s changing, how to stay connected safely, and where to go for support.
• Social Media Age Restrictions – Young People
  https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/social-media-age-restrictions.
  Easy-to-read information about account changes, digital wellbeing and safe online behaviour.

For Parents and Carers

• Parent Information on Social Media Age Restrictions
  https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/social-media-age-restrictions.
  Explains what the laws mean for families, common questions, and how to talk with children about the changes.
• Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
  https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/faqs.
  A practical FAQ covering enforcement, exemptions, appeals and privacy.

More Detail

• Overview of the New Law
  https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions.
  A detailed explanation of platform obligations and government expectations.
• Department of Infrastructure – Social Media Minimum Age
  https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications/internet/online-safety/current-legislation/social-media-minimum-age.
  Background information on the legislation and regulatory framework.

The social media age restrictions do not mean children are completely safe online, risks still exist. Should your child be caught up in unkind or inappropriate/illegal online behaviour, please follow these steps:

1. Don’t respond
2. Screenshot and save evidence
3. Block and report. Most platforms act quickly on harmful behaviour. Use the app’s tools to:

• Block the person
• Report the content
• Mute or restrict accounts.

4. Make a report to the eSafety Commissioner. If the platform doesn’t fix the problem, families can make an official report at https://www.esafety.gov.au/report.

eSafety can help with:

• Cyberbullying
• Image-based abuse
• Harmful or inappropriate content
• Deepfakes or manipulated images
• Serious threats or online harassment.

The introduction of these new age restrictions provides families with the opportunity to review their child’s online habits, discuss their wellbeing and explore safer ways for their child to stay connected.

These changes mark an important milestone in protecting young Australians online and we will continue to support students in developing healthy digital habits and encourage families to stay informed. 

Mrs Fiona Flower
Vice Principal – Pastoral Care