| Social Media Ban for Under-16s — It’s Coming. Do You Know About It? How Will It Affect Yo The eSafety Commissioner and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have taken action to protect children under the age of 16 from social media. This means that starting 27th December 2025, children under 16 will be banned from accessing social media, and everyone aged 16 and over will be required to verify their identity — either through Digital ID or biometric identification — every time they access social media platforms like: YouTube Snapchat TikTok X (formerly Twitter) Google and Microsoft accounts Yes, every time you use social media, you may need to verify your identity. 🔹 From ABC News:“Australian children below the age of 16 will be unable to have social media accounts under the ban. Social media companies will be required to take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure there are no workarounds. If they don’t enforce the ban, they could face fines of up to $50 million.” 🔹 From The Daily Declaration:“Currently, the clearest examples of this are Labor’s nationwide social media ban for under-16s, and the initiative for requiring ID to create a Google or Microsoft account from December 27.” 🔹 From SBS News:“The government has announced, after months of speculation, that YouTube will be included in its ban, while also tabling which types of online services will be exempt from the rules. How will YouTube on TVs work, especially those without cameras? How will face verification happen on devices that don’t have cameras? Have VPNs been considered, and how will they be managed to prevent bypassing the system? Why are online video games and adult sites like Pornhub excluded from the ban? How will platforms deactivate existing accounts owned by under-16s? The implementation date of 27th December 2025 is also concerning. That’s just after Christmas, when: Kids and teens are on school holidays. Families are spending time together. Tech support from major companies is often limited due to staff holidays. Imagine this: right after Boxing Day, your children or grandchildren suddenly lose all access to social media. Meanwhile, you’re being asked to register for Digital ID or submit to facial recognition to prove your age — with no real support available. If you believe this is unreasonable or poorly timed, contact your local representatives. Your voice matters. ✅ ABC: How to contact your local politician and be heard ✅ Petitions you can sign:Senator Alex Antic’s – SCRAP THE ‘DIGITAL IDENTITY’ POWER GRAB Australia’s Voice Digital ID Social Media Ban Paulin Hansons OneNation Request for Immediate Action Against the Digital ID Act 2023 Most people I’ve spoken to aren’t aware this is happening — or how it will affect them. That’s why I’ve taken the time to share this information, along with useful links and petitions. As you can probably tell from the length of this message, I feel very strongly about this ban, especially regarding how it impacts those over 16. Many people may suddenly find themselves struggling with digital identity and biometric requirements — and I may end up with a lot of very frustrated calls. Parents should protect, guide, monitor, and educate their children about social media — not the government. Unless, of course, the ultimate goal is to push Digital ID and increase surveillance. |