Australia Bans Under-16s from Social Media Dec 2025 – Meta’s 2-Week Warning

Australia just became the first country in the world to completely ban children under 16 from using major social media platforms – and the countdown has officially begun.

On November 20, 2025, Meta started mass-notifying more than 500,000 Australian teenagers via SMS and email that their Instagram, Facebook, and Threads accounts will be permanently locked starting December 4 unless they prove they are 16 or older.

The full Australia social media ban under 16 law takes effect December 10, 2025, affecting Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X (Twitter).

Platforms Hit by the Australia Social Media Ban 2025

Instagram
Facebook & Threads
TikTok
Snapchat
YouTube
X (Twitter)

Fines up to AU$50 million per breach.

How Meta Is Enforcing the Under-16 Ban

Meta is using AI + existing user data + Yoti facial age estimation. Teens wrongly flagged can appeal with government ID or a video selfie.

Global Domino Effect Already Starting

Lawmakers in the US, UK, France, and EU are fast-tracking identical bills, calling Australia the “global test case.” California & Florida parental-consent laws launch 2026; EU may raise minimum age to 16 bloc-wide by 2027.

What Parents & Teens Must Do Before December 4

Download all photos, videos & chats immediately
Save contact lists and memories
Start family conversations about offline life
Explore “dumb phones” or family-shared devices
Mark calendar: age 16 = official “account reactivation day”