Starting 10 December 2025, social media platforms in Australia that have age restrictions will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account.
This follows amendments to the Online Safety Act 2021 in late-2024 to introduce a social media minimum age framework (Part 4A of the Act). You can read more about it on the eSafety Commissions website.
A key point is you won’t be forced to use a government accredited Digital ID to prove you are at least 16 years of age.
This privacy protection is part of the Online Safety Act 2021, which prevents social media platforms from requiring the use of an accredited Digital ID service for age verification.
It means, even under the new law, platforms must offer multiple ways for users to confirm they are at least 16 years old.
One option might be using an accredited Digital ID service—but only if the platform chooses to offer it. If they do, and you prefer that method, you can use it. But it’s entirely up to you.
