- Australia’s under 16 social media ban begins today (December 10)
- Ten social media platforms fall under the scope of the law
- Using a VPN is unlikely to help children bypass the restrictions
Australian teenagers are being locked out of popular social media apps. As of today (December 10, 2025), the country has officially launched its long-awaited ban on under-16 social media.
Platforms including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are required to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from using their services. Fines for non-compliance can reach $49.5 million AUD (approximately $32 million USD).
The move has been praised by child advocates and enjoys broad public support, but it has divided technologists and privacy experts who fear for citizens’ privacy and security.
As seen in other countries with age verification measures, Australian officials are aware that some users will try to circumvent the ban by using VPNs, but it is unclear whether the best VPNs can help people circumvent the rules in any case.
That doesn’t mean people won’t try. Google Trends data already shows a slight increase in search volume for the term “VPN” in the hours leading up to the ban.
Under the eSafety Commissioner directive, ten platforms are currently required to implement the under-16 ban: Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube.
Teens can currently continue to use apps that are considered lower risk, including WhatsApp, Discord, Roblox and Pinterest. However, the regulator notes that it “may assess new services that emerge or reassess existing ones if they evolve to the extent that their purpose changes.”
Regulated platforms are required to close existing accounts held by teenagers and prevent under-16s from creating new ones.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, began implementing the new requirements on December 4, although Messenger is not affected. The company notifies accounts suspected of being under 16 and allows users to verify their age if they have been falsely affected.
Similarly, YouTube said that all users under 16 will be automatically logged out.
Reddit has also begun notifying Australian users via email with an email saying, “we disagree with the government’s assessment of Reddit as being within the scope of the law,” according to the message shared by this Reddit user.
What’s next?
With Australia’s world-first social media ban for teenagers now in force, we expect citizens to increasingly take matters into their own hands.
Young users are already reportedly moving towards alternative apps, with lesser-known platforms such as Coverstar, Lemon8 and Rednote gaining popularity, according to the Guardian.
VPN searches are likely to increase further as the day progresses, giving a better idea of whether the technology and other circumvention tools can actually bypass the restrictions.
Details regarding platform-specific age verification methods will also become clearer in the coming hours as the 10 platforms within the scope of the law implement changes to comply.
TechRadar will continue to monitor events as they unfold. And we certainly won’t be alone – politicians from around the world are watching closely, and the likes of Malaysia and the EU are already considering similar laws/
We test and review VPN services for legitimate recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a Service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that Service). 2. Protecting your online security and enhancing your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or condone the use of a VPN service to break the law or carry out illegal activities. Consumption of paid-for pirated content is neither endorsed nor endorsed by Future Publishing.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
