TikTok has announced that it will block users under the age of 16 in Australia in compliance with a new social media law set to take effect on December 10, 2025. The platform said it will prevent minors from creating new accounts and will deactivate existing accounts belonging to under-16 users. The move comes amid growing concern over children’s online safety, privacy, and exposure to harmful content.
The legislation, an amendment to Australia’s existing online safety framework, requires major social media platforms to ensure that under-16s do not have active accounts. Platforms affected include TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. While most of these platforms already have minimum age requirements, regulators argued that the previous standards were insufficient to protect children in the current digital environment.
In a statement, TikTok said it respects the “spirit and intent” of the law, acknowledging the importance of protecting young users. The company emphasized that while it does not agree with all aspects of the legislation, it will implement the necessary measures to comply. Under its compliance plan, affected accounts will be deactivated, and users will be given options to download their data or permanently delete their accounts. Some may request reactivation once they turn 16 through approved age-verification methods.
TikTok has encouraged parents and guardians to support their children during the transition and to maintain open discussions about responsible online behavior. The company acknowledged that the changes may be unsettling for some families but emphasized that they are necessary to meet legal requirements.
Other major platforms have similarly committed to compliance. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, and Snap Inc., owner of Snapchat, have confirmed that they will follow the new rules. Regulators warned that failure to take “reasonable steps” to block under-16 users could result in fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately US$32–33 million). Many platforms have already begun identifying and deactivating eligible accounts ahead of the law’s enforcement date.
Despite the broad compliance, some critics argue that a blanket age-based ban may not fully protect children. Concerns have been raised that younger users may migrate to unregulated platforms or apps, where content moderation is weaker. Others caution that age-verification mechanisms, such as ID checks or behavioral profiling, could raise privacy issues and inadvertently block legitimate users.
Proponents of the law, however, insist that the benefits outweigh the risks. They argue that the measure will limit exposure to online harassment, addictive content, and other potential mental health stressors. For children under 16, social media can pose significant risks, and regulators say that strict enforcement of age restrictions is necessary to mitigate these dangers.
Australia’s approach is being closely watched internationally. Some experts suggest that other countries may adopt similar measures if the policy proves effective in protecting minors. For tech companies, the law marks a significant regulatory shift, requiring robust age-verification systems and new operational measures to remain compliant.
For Australian teenagers under 16, the law effectively bars access to major social media platforms. Parents and guardians are encouraged to help children navigate this change, while platforms refine their systems to ensure that legitimate users are not unfairly affected. TikTok and other companies stress that this initiative is part of a broader commitment to online safety and responsible digital engagement.
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