Here is the official statement on the social media ban:

The Albanese Labor Government is backing Australian families, parents and kids by announcing today YouTube will be included in its world-leading under-16 social media laws.
 
Delaying access to social media, including YouTube, until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them three more years to build real world connections and online resilience.
 
Following extensive consultation and advice, age-restricted social media platforms will face fines of up to $49.5 million for failing to take responsible steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services.
 
Age-restricted social media platforms will include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube, amongst other platforms.
 
Informed by advice from the eSafety Commissioner, the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 tabled today specify which types of online services will not be captured by the social media legislation, including online gaming, messaging apps, health and education services.
 
These types of online services have been excluded from the new minimum age obligations because they pose fewer social media harms to under 16s, or are regulated under different laws.
 
From 10 December 2025, all services that meet the definition of ‘age-restricted social media platform’ in the Act, and are not excluded in the rules, will be subject to the social media minimum age law.
 
Age restricted social media accounts are defined as services that allow users to interact and post material.
 
The Government is proud to be on the side of families.