On 10 December 2025, Australia will flick a switch that changes the digital landscape for young people – social media platforms will officially enforce a minimum age of 16.
It’s one of the biggest online safety reforms we’ve seen in decades (ever?) – and while families everywhere are scrambling to understand what it means, many educators (me included) are quietly hopeful. In fact, our school recently teamed up with Encounter Youth to run a parent seminar on digital wellbeing, and the response confirmed exactly why a reset is needed. We’re now working with them on a student program as well.
But before we jump into the data let’s quickly unpack what this new law actually means.
What’s Changing on 10 December?
Anyone under 16 will no longer be allowed to hold accounts on – TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Kik, Twitch – and the platforms themselves carry the responsibility. They must find and delete underage accounts, introduce robust age verification, and prevent workarounds like VPNs and borrowed IDs.
Platforms that aren’t included yet – such as Discord, Messenger, Roblox, Pinterest, WhatsApp, Steam and YouTube Kids – are expected to follow with their own verification systems soon.
This isn’t about punishing children or parents in fact there are zero legal penalties for families – the accountability sits with the tech companies.
How Will Verification Work?
We’ll start seeing systems like Yoti, where a young person takes a short video selfie and AI estimates their age. If that’s unclear, they can use a government ID.
Crucially, the legislation requires that, age verification data must not be used for anything else an it must be destroyed immediately once verification is complete
An appeals process will exist for anyone mistakenly flagged. Meanwhile, Meta (Facebook/Instagram/Threads) has already begun contacting users, advising under-16s to download or delete their data before early shutdowns roll out.
Can Kids Still See Content?
Yes, children will still be able to watch most content without logging in, especially on YouTube or TikTok.
But they won’t be able to comment, post, follow friends, exchange messages, join private groups or receive algorithm-fed personalised content. I heard a Dad quip recently that the YouTube algo if kids are watching from parent accounts might be a bit different than unboxing videos –
“Looks like kids will be watching a lot of videos about fertilising lawns!”
(And honestly, maybe that’s not the worst thing.)
In other words, passive watching stays and interaction goes. This reform grew out of mounting concern about the mental health impacts of social media on young people – concerns echoed loudly in our own school community.
And one of the strongest arguments behind this shift is simple:
Kids will always test boundaries. That doesn’t mean society stops setting them.
As Premier Peter Malinauskas explained, we don’t abandon alcohol laws just because some (not all!) teens might sneak a drink. We don’t get rid of driving rules because people speed. We set clear expectations because structure protects wellbeing.
Regulation doesn’t eliminate risk, but it reduces harm, creates a shared baseline, and empowers families to say:
“This is the line, and we all follow it.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas explained the thinking behind the law:
“Whatever the downfalls are about restriction to social media, they are outweighed by the benefits of children having more healthy relationships and a more human understanding of what good interactions look like.”
He also shared a story that stuck with me:
“I’ve seen TikTok putting out advertisements suggesting that kids need TikTok to learn how to fish. Most people learn how to fish from a mom, a dad, an uncle, or a mate, or wherever. If that’s the worst thing that happens here, then that’s not a bad place to be.”
At its core, this reform is about giving kids more opportunities for real world connection. If the outcome is more conversations with family and friends and less time lost to endless scrolling, that’s a step in the right direction.
The Deleted Selfie Example
A young girl takes a selfie. She decides she doesn’t like it and deletes it. What came out in evidence from a Meta whistleblower is that the platform still registers that deleted selfie as a behavioural signal. Even though the image itself is removed, the act of deleting it is recorded as a moment where the user may be feeling unsure about their appearance.
According to the whistleblower’s testimony, Meta used these kinds of signals to help determine when a young person might be more receptive to certain types of advertising – including beauty and appearance related products.
In other words, a deleted photo isn’t just deleted. It becomes part of the data used to shape what that young person sees next online.
This example is one of the clearest illustrations of why the age ban matters. It’s not about policing fun or stopping creativity – it’s about reducing the chance that children’s everyday online behaviour is quietly analysed and fed into targeted advertising systems they don’t understand.
The age restriction doesn’t fix everything, but it does remove the core mechanism that makes this possible, it’s a small, evidence based step toward creating a healthier digital environment for young people.
Where the Reform Began
The Premier has shared that the catalyst was his wife finishing The Anxious Generation and telling him, “You have to do something about this.” What followed was legislative work shaped by former High Court Chief Justice Robert French, global safety advisories, whistleblower reports, and growing data on youth anxiety and social comparison.
The government’s stance is simple – if this helps even a little – if anxiety, sleep, friendships or self esteem improve – then it’s worth doing. I talk more about this here https://stephkrie.wordpress.com/2025/04/03/turning-the-tide-with-premier-malinauskas-why-the-st-ignatius-tech-smart-seminar-might-be-a-historic-moment-for-our-children-and-education/
Our Digital Wellbeing Seminar – What Parents Told Us
This is the part that fills me with the most quiet optimism. At our recent Parenting in a Digital Age event with Encounter Youth, parents from across the Hills shared openly about what they’re seeing at home.
Here’s what stood out – parents are worried. In fact, not one person at our seminar said they had “no big concerns” about their child’s screen use. Most families are already noticing changes in their children’s behaviour. Seventy-eight per cent reported shifts in mood, sleep or general wellbeing after extended screen time. Parents described everything from mood swings and irritability to poor sleep, distraction, withdrawn behaviour and short tempers.
And it wasn’t just adults raising issues – children had concerns too.Some spoke about adults being on their phones too much, feeling ignored, wondering why grown ups don’t have the same limits, and wanting more genuine connection. Their honesty was both refreshing and a little confronting.
Parents also told us they often feel unsure. Many weren’t confident using parental controls, navigating safety settings, or setting consistent boundaries at home. And yet, after the seminar, the shift was remarkable. Ninety-two per cent left feeling more confident, better equipped for conversations and ready to try new strategies. Every single attendee said they felt supported simply by being part of a community discussion.
Families also shared the boundaries they already have in place – no phones in bedrooms, screens only in shared spaces, weekend limits, no social media before 16, devices charging in the kitchen overnight, and no phones at the dinner table. There was a clear sense of relief – a collective “we’re in this together.”
Why This All Matters
For educators, this reform feels like long awaited support. We’ve watched the impact of algorithms, comparison culture, online conflict and overstimulation spill into classrooms, friendships and home life. We see tired faces and overwhelmed minds. We see young people trying to navigate pressures they’re simply not developmentally ready for.
For the first time, parents, schools and government are drawing the same boundary line. This law gives us something we haven’t had for a long time:
- a shared baseline
- a united message
- a much needed circuit breaker
- a healthier starting point for young people
As Premier Malinauskas put it, “If it just makes a modicum of a difference, it will be worth it.”
We’re continuing our work with Encounter Youth, creating a student program that supports young people to navigate online spaces with confidence, honesty and practical skills.
This legislation – combined with strong community partnerships – gives us a real chance to build something healthier for the next generation.
FromtheForest 
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