“This is not because you’ve done anything wrong. It’s because adults have decided that some corners of the internet were being handed to children too early.”
Australia is preparing for major changes to the way young people use social media, with new legislation setting a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts. As these laws begin rolling out, conversations about online safety, digital wellbeing, and responsible tech use are more important than ever, especially for the young people who will be directly affected.
At The Lakes College, we believe student voice plays a vital role in shaping meaningful conversations about technology. This week, our Deputy Principal Mrs Doré, invited students under the age of 16 to share their thoughts about the new laws, the impact they may have, and what responsible digital engagement should look like in the future.
What is the new rule?
Under Australia’s new Age Limit Policy for Account Creation:
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The minimum age for holding a social media account will rise from 13 to 16.
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Platforms must take “reasonable steps” to enforce this age limit.
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Companies that fail to comply may face significant financial penalties.
In practice, this means a 14-year-old should not be able to have an Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube or X account under their own name. Companies will be expected to actively block or remove those accounts.
For years, children could sign up simply by clicking “Yes, I am 13.” The burden fell on parents to say no while their child watched peers freely join.
This new model sends a different message: This is no longer just a parenting issue. This is a platform responsibility issue.
Is this a ban on the internet for under-16s?
No - and this is one of the most important clarifications.
Young people under 16 will still be able to:
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Search for information
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Watch videos
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Read public posts
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Access educational content
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Enjoy entertainment, tutorials, music, and sport highlights
What changes is the relationship between the child and the tech company.
At present, signing up for an account creates a data-driven commercial relationship: platforms track behaviour, build profiles, and feed personalised content designed to keep young people scrolling.
From December 2025, companies will no longer be allowed to build this data-harvesting, behaviour-shaping pipeline for under-16s.
The goal is not to stop a 13-year-old from watching YouTube.
The goal is to stop YouTube from profiling a 13-year-old.
Why is Australia doing this?
The reasoning is clear:
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Social media is designed to capture and hold attention.
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Children and early teens are especially vulnerable to addictive design, peer comparison, disrupted sleep and exposure to harmful content.
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Parents are often uncomfortable with how early social media begins, but fear isolating their child by saying no alone.
By lifting the age to 16, the policy aims to:
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Remove social pressure from individual families
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Delay entry into highly social, high-pressure online spaces
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Give young people more time to develop emotionally, socially and cognitively
At a national level, Australia is also signalling that tech companies should not be allowed to treat young adolescents as “free inventory” in a commercial system built around attention.
Will teens really lose their accounts?
In many cases, yes.
Under-16s will not only be blocked from signing up—platforms will be required to close existing underage accounts.
This may lead to frustration or disappointment, particularly for students who have built friendships or memories on these platforms.
We encourage families to begin calm, supportive conversations now, including:
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“If your account disappeared tomorrow, how would you stay connected?”
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“What would you actually miss?”
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“Which parts of social media felt positive, and which felt stressful or draining?”
These discussions are far easier before emotions run high.
Are there penalties for children or parents?
No.
There are no fines or punishments for young people or families.
This policy is about standards and safety, not blame.
The message to reinforce at home:
What about school use of online content?
Educational use will continue.
Students will still be able to:
- Watch most public YouTube videos
- View teacher-selected content
- Access resources through school systems such as SEQTA
They simply won’t be able to log into personalised accounts that deliver recommended feeds, private messaging or auto-playing content loops.
How will age be checked?
Platforms must take reasonable steps to verify age.
Key points:
- The burden is on the platform, not on parents uploading ID.
- Australians will not be forced to use government ID to prove age.
Age-assurance methods are still developing and may evolve throughout 2026.
What are the potential benefits for young people?
Many students already tell us:
- They feel more present and less stressed when not online.
- They appreciate breaks from the pressure to perform or compare.
- They find it easier to focus, sleep and manage friendships offline.
The new laws aim to create more time for:
- Genuine connection
- Rest and recovery
- Real-life friendships
- Hobbies, passions and learning without constant digital interruption
This is not about removing technology from young people’s lives.
It is about postponing the most addictive corners until they are older and more ready.
What does this mean for us as a school community?
In the next year we can expect:
- Students worrying about losing accounts
- Families wondering how to support connection
- Some messy moments as platforms adjust
At TLC, our commitment remains the same:
- Prioritising student safety
- Teaching digital literacy and wellbeing
- Helping young people understand how platforms are designed
- Supporting families as they navigate these changes
Looking ahead, there are also positive opportunities:
- Normalising delayed access as a cultural baseline
- Creating strong in-person community opportunities through sport, the arts, service, leadership and co-curricular programs
- Highlighting the benefits of focus, sleep, creativity and real-world connection
In Summary
- From 10 December 2025, Australians under 16 will not be able to create or maintain accounts on major social media platforms.
- Responsibility lies with tech companies, not with families.
- Young people can still explore the internet—they just won’t be entered into personalised, data-harvesting social media ecosystems.
- There will be a transition period, and it may feel bumpy.
- Long-term, the intention is healthier habits, stronger wellbeing and greater family agency.
We will continue to keep our community informed as details develop and as platforms implement their responses. In the meantime, we encourage gentle, future-focused conversations at home—conversations not centred on “losing an app,” but on protecting childhood and supporting wellbeing.
Click on the following link to find out more: Online safety | eSafety Commissioner
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