Social media minimum age of 16 (2024 Act and 2026 enforcement Act)

Government announces legislation on a minimum age for social media[21]

National Cabinet agrees to a minimum age of 16 for social media[22][23]

First Ministers of the Commonwealth, states and territories agree that the Commonwealth will legislate; the law is to come into force no earlier than 12 months after Royal Assent.

Bill introduced in Parliament[8]

Bill introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to a Senate committee[8][12][1]

Second reading speech by the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland. The same day, the Senate refers the bill to its Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, with a report due on 26 November; submissions are invited by 22 November.

Senate committee report: pass the bill, with nine recommendations[12][11][14][15][8]

After 107 published submissions and a single public hearing (25 November), the majority recommends passage, subject in particular to banning compulsory use of Digital ID or other government ID, an independent review within 18 months of the obligation taking effect and a legislated « digital duty of care ». The Greens recommend that the bill not pass; Senator Canavan asks for more time.

House of Representatives passes the bill[8]

Senate passes the bill with eight government amendments[8]

Finally passed by both Houses[8][1]

Royal Assent on 10 December 2024; the obligation on platforms is deferred to a date set by the Minister.

Royal Assent: Act No. 127 of 2024[1][8]

The Act commences on 11 December 2024, but the obligation on platforms only takes effect on a day set by the Minister, no later than 12 months after commencement.

Minister Anika Wells sets 10 December 2025 as the start date and makes the exemption rules[3][4][5][26]

The rules exclude messaging, online games, product reviews and support, professional networking, education and health services. YouTube, named in the draft rules, is left out of the exemptions on the eSafety Commissioner’s advice: it is therefore covered.

Minimum age obligation takes effect[3][1][7]

Applies to existing accounts as well as new ones.

eSafety: about 4.7 million accounts removed or restricted by mid-December 2025[17]

The Commissioner later cautioned that the figure counts accounts, not individual users, and does not in itself show that platforms complied.

Amendment rules narrow the scope to platforms with recommender or « logged-in » engagement features[6][7]

From the day after registration, a service is only covered if it selects content using account information, or reserves to logged-in users an endless feed, engagement feedback (views, likes, followers) or ephemeral content.

First eSafety compliance update; investigations into five platforms[17][28]

Among parents whose child had an account before the ban, around seven in ten report that the child still has one on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok. eSafety investigates Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for possible non-compliance (repeated age-check attempts, re-registration after removal, weak reporting channels).

Government announces stronger powers and doubled penalties[28]

According to the government, more than 5 million under-16 accounts have been removed, deactivated or restricted since 10 December 2025, but platforms are « not doing enough ».

Enforcement bill passed by the House; Senate inquiry at the Coalition’s initiative[9][17][20]

Introduced on 29 June 2026. The referral to committee was opposed by government senators.

Senate committee recommends passing the enforcement bill[18][9]

Enforcement bill finally passed by both Houses[9][2]

The Senate adopted two government amendments, agreed to by the House the same day. Royal Assent on 11 September 2026 (Act No. 83 of 2026).

Enforcement Act commences[2]

In force as strengthened by Act No. 83 of 2026: maximum penalties doubled and new investigation powers for the eSafety Commissioner.