Instagram set to be banned for under 16s in Australia from early December

For thousands of Australian teenagers, the era of limitless scrolling on Instagram and Facebook is coming to an abrupt end.

Meta has started warning users that if they are under 16, their accounts will go dark on 4 December. The notifications, arriving via text and in-app alerts, are the first tangible sign of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s 'world-leading' ban designed to 'let kids be kids.'

Why the ban?

Based on legislation passed in late 2024, the Federal Government’s primary motivation is protecting the mental health and development of young people.

Prime Minister Albanese has cited the 'social harm' caused by these platforms as the driving force. The government argues that social media algorithms exacerbate anxiety and body image issues by exposing users to unrealistic portrayals of life.

Furthermore, there is deep concern regarding the addictive nature of these algorithms, which can 'rabbit hole' vulnerable users into harmful content or subject them to 24/7 cyberbullying that follows them home from school.

Australia's internet regulator has estimated there are 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 teens on Instagram in the 13-15 age bracket.

Duty of Care

A key component of the new laws involves shifting the burden of enforcement from parents – who often feel powerless against global tech giants – to the platforms themselves.

Under a strict 'duty of care' model, companies like Meta, TikTok, and X face fines of up to $50 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent age-inappropriate access, rather than relying on children to self-regulate.

Letting Kids be Kids

This legislative push is underpinned by the Prime Minister’s philosophy that childhood should largely be spent offline. The goal is to redirect focus during these critical developmental years toward real-world connections, encouraging physical activity, sport, and face-to-face socialisation. By establishing a minimum age of 16, the government aims to delay exposure to adult themes and digital social pressures until teenagers have acquired sufficient maturity and resilience.

What happens next?

With the law coming into full force on 10 December, Meta is urging young users to update their contact details so they can be notified when they are old enough to return. Crucially, the tech giant is advising teens to download their history – preserving years of photos, videos, and DMs – before access is cut.

But what if the algorithm gets your age wrong? Meta is rolling out a digital challenge system. Teens claiming to be 16 or older will need to prove it, either by uploading a driver's licence or taking a video selfie that undergoes facial scanning analysis.

Despite these measures, Meta remains skeptical. The company told Seven News that teens are naturally resourceful and may find ways around the blocks – a sentiment echoed by independent reports suggesting age verification technology remains imperfect.

You can find out more on the Australian Governments E-Safety website.