- Australia’s social media ban for under 16s comes into force today (December 10)
- Ten social media platforms are covered by the law
- Using a VPN probably won’t help kids get around the restrictions
Australian teenagers are banned from accessing popular social media apps. As of today (December 10, 2025), the country has officially implemented the long-awaited ban on social media for children under the age of 16.
Platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat must take “appropriate measures” to prevent minors under the age of 16 from using their services. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to A$49.5 million (about $32 million).
The move has been praised by children’s rights activists and has broad public support, but is divisive among technologists and privacy experts who fear for citizens’ privacy and security.
As in other countries with age verification measures in place, Australian authorities are aware that some users will attempt to circumvent the ban by using a VPN. However, it is unclear whether the best VPNs can help people get around the rules.
That doesn’t mean people wouldn’t try. Google Trends data already shows a small increase in search volume for the term “VPN” in the hours leading up to the ban.
How social media providers comply with the new rules
According to Guidelines for those responsible for electronic securityCurrently, ten platforms are needed to implement the ban on children under 16: Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube.
Currently, teens can still use apps that are considered low-risk, including WhatsApp, Discord, Roblox, and Pinterest. However, the regulator emphasizes that “it may evaluate new services or re-evaluate existing services if they develop to the point of changing their purpose.”
Regulated platforms must close existing teen accounts and prevent children under 16 from creating new accounts.
HalfFacebook’s parent company Instagram and Threads began rolling out the new requirements on December 4, although Messenger is not affected. The company notifies accounts suspected of belonging to children under 16 and offers users the ability to verify their age if mistargeted.
Comparable, YouTube said All users under the age of 16 will be automatically logged out.
Reddit also began warning Australian users via email, saying: “We disagree with the government’s assessment that Reddit complies with the law,” read the message shared by Reddit. this Reddit user.
What happens next?
With Australia’s first youth social media ban, we hope citizens will increasingly take matters into their own hands.
Younger users are reportedly already turning to alternative apps, while lesser-known platforms such as Coverstar, Lemon8 and Rednote are gaining popularity. according to Guardian.
The number of VPN searches is expected to continue to increase as the day progresses, providing insight into whether the technology and other circumvention tools can actually bypass restrictions.
Details of platform-specific age verification methods will also become clearer in the coming hours, as the ten platforms within the scope of the law implement changes to comply.
Disclaimer
We test and assess VPN services in the context of legal recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms of that service). 2. Protect your online security and improve your online privacy abroad. We do not support or condone the use of a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Future Publishing does not condone or condone the use of pirated copies for a fee.