Commencing today, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts on their platforms.
Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account. Most standalone gaming and messaging apps, as well as many services that support health and education, will not be affected by the new law.
There are no penalties for under-16s who access an account on an age-restricted social media platform, or for their parents or carers. This is about making the platforms take greater responsibility for the safety of children – they face penalties of up to $49.5 million if they don’t take reasonable steps to implement the changes.
For more information, the eSafety Commissioner has provided helpful guidance: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/social-media-age-restrictions
You can also read the SchoolTV Special Report: “New Social Media Regulations: What You Need to Know” via this link: https://starmelb.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-new-social-media-regulations
Students under 16 will require support to navigate these new changes. The eSafety Commissioner and SchoolTV offer trusted information and tools to help manage this transition and are a great place to start for families.