From 10 December 2025, age‐restricted social media platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australian under-16s from having accounts. This follows amendments to the Online Safety Act 2021 in late‐ 2024 to introduce a social media minimum age framework (SMMA) (Part 4A of the Act).

The Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) puts the onus on social media platforms, not parents or young people, to take steps to ensure fundamental protections are in place. This is about protecting young people – not punishing or isolating them – and supporting parents when it comes to overseeing their children’s health and wellbeing.

Key features of the SMMA include:

• Requires age‐restricted social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 years old from having accounts (the minimum age obligation).
• Introduces a definition for ‘age‐restricted social media platform’ to which the minimum age obligation applies, alongside rule‐making powers for the Minister for Communications to narrow or further target the definition.
• Specifies that no Australian will be compelled to use government identification (including Digital ID) to prove their age online, and platforms must offer reasonable alternatives to users.

FULL FACT SHEET: Social Media Minimum Age – Fact sheet

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and Reddit will be age-restricted. Some messaging apps, such as Messenger Kids, WhatsApp and Google Classroom, won’t be included in the ban. While YouTube will be included in the ban. it won’t be inaccessible in the same way other social media platforms will be.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

As yet there is no indication on how access will be monitored or obtained other than that no use of Government issued ID will be enforced. Anyone with an account on one of the Social Media platforms named above who is under-16 at the time of the implementation of the act, will likely see their account deactivated by the platform.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT CAPTAL FOOTBALL CHANNELS?

Under-16s will still be able to view Capital Football matches Live on YouTube as an account is not needed to access most of the site’s content, meaning children will still be able to view videos without logging in. Under-age users won’t be able to view age-restricted content, leave comments, or upload their own videos, though.

As Capital Football uses Facebook as a business landing page, and Facebook (currently) allows viewers to access business information without first requiring them to log in, it is unlikely access would be affected. Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content across sites (Facebook/Instagram) that doesn’t require being logged into an account.

For full information on the ban, and how it might affect you and your family, and for tips on how to work with under-16s during this change, please visit: Social media ‘ban’ or delay FAQ | eSafety Commissioner