Australia’s $50 Million Social Media Ban for Under-16s: Protecting Children Online

Australia has introduced a new law banning children under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts without explicit parental consent. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to $50 million, making this one of the strictest online safety measures globally.

This legislation is a clear step forward in addressing the risks children face online. While it specifically targets underage accounts, it signals a growing shift in how society approaches the safety and privacy of children in the digital world. It’s becoming increasingly evident that broader changes are on the horizon—not just for how platforms manage children’s accounts, but for how children are featured online altogether.

From cyberbullying and grooming (NSPCC report) to the misuse of children’s photos and personal data, the risks are significant. This law may be one of the first major moves, but it’s unlikely to be the last as awareness grows and the call for stricter protections continues to build.

Sharing updates about children online can feel innocent—whether it’s their first day of school, a birthday party, or a proud moment as a parent—but the risks are much deeper than they might seem at first glance. Unlike a professionally managed campaign, such as a baby in a commercial where every detail is carefully considered, personal posts can accidentally reveal too much. For example, images of children on holiday by the pool, in their school uniforms allowing risks of their location daily, or at recognisable locations as a whole can inadvertently invite unwanted attention.

I hadn’t fully considered how much seemingly innocent content could pose such dark risks until I began speaking with clients who had experienced the consequences firsthand. It’s truly horrible, the idea that something as innocent as sharing a proud moment or a sweet memory could invite something so terrible feels deeply unsettling. But the truth is, we have to be responsible about this horrible reality.

Some of the meetings I’ve attended over the years have educated me on these issues, covering the potential dangers and long-term consequences. To ensure I fully understood, I started reading studies and research, which highlighted just how pervasive and complex these risks are.

I’ve also met parents who are actively pushing their children into the spotlight, often unaware of the potential long-term impact, especially if their child doesn’t want to be famous. One client I worked with was 17 years old, and much of my work involved trying to take down content their parents had shared during their childhood. The posts had been shared widely, and while initially posted I’m sure with pride, they were later mocked and caused significant distress.

The Risks of Sharing Children’s Images Online

Posting photos and videos of children online might seem harmless, but the reality can be unsettling. Content shared with good intentions can end up being misused or repurposed in ways families never intended:

Exploitation of Images: Disturbingly, predators often misuse online images of children. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that in 2020, 44% of child sexual abuse content they investigated featured self-generated material, often originating from platforms where children’s images are shared. (IWF Annual Report 2020)

Content Misuse on Inappropriate Websites: Innocent images, such as children playing or family moments, can be taken from public social media accounts and end up on inappropriate websites without the family’s knowledge or consent. This misuse exposes children to potential exploitation. (NSPCC - Photographing and Filming Children)

Oversaturation Makes Detection Harder: Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are flooded with family-oriented content, often shared by vloggers and influencers showcasing their children’s lives. While most creators share with good intentions, the sheer volume of accessible content has made it harder for platforms and authorities to identify and catch predators. A 2019 New York Times investigation revealed how YouTube’s algorithm was being manipulated by predators to locate videos featuring minors—even on supposedly safe platforms. (The New York Times) Research from the Australian Institute of Criminology found that predators use accessible, public content as a gateway to avoid detection, as they can operate unnoticed within the vast pool of seemingly innocent material. (Australian Institute of Criminology)

Loss of Privacy: Once content is shared online, it’s challenging to control its spread or usage. Innocent images have been found repurposed without consent, leading to privacy violations.

Children Cannot Consent: Research from the London School of Economics highlights that children cannot fully understand the long-term implications of their personal data being shared online. While many children value privacy, they lack the capacity to grasp how their digital footprint can follow them into adulthood. (LSE Report on Children’s Data and Privacy Online)

Challenges with Parental Consent: Studies suggest that relying solely on parental consent might not fully address the complexities of protecting children’s digital privacy. Imagine this: all your childhood memories—birthday parties, bath time photos, or silly moments—being blasted out online before you could say, “No, that’s so embarrassing!” Now imagine being in high school and the school bully finds those clips of you. You wouldn’t have consented, but the damage is already done.

This is the issue many young people are now grappling with, as they grow older and face a digital footprint they didn’t choose. There’s a need for public policy and education to play a role as the digital landscape continues to evolve. (Oxford Human Rights Law Review - Children’s Privacy)

The Risks of Social Media for Young People

For children and teenagers who use social media themselves, the risks can escalate further:

Cyberbullying: Nearly 46% of teens report experiencing some form of online harassment, which can lead to mental health struggles like anxiety and depression. (Pew Research)

Grooming and Exploitation: The NSPCC recorded over 7,000 cases of online grooming in 2023/24 in the UK, marking an 89% increase over six years. Many of these crimes occurred via social media platforms. (NSPCC report)

Exposure to Harmful Content: Even with parental controls, children can encounter graphic or inappropriate material online, which can have a lasting impact on their emotional well-being.

What Platforms Are Doing

In response to these concerns, some platforms have introduced features aimed at protecting young users. For example, Instagram launched “Instagram Teens,” which offers restricted features for underage users.

While such measures are positive, their success depends on strict enforcement and user compliance—both of which remain challenges. Australia’s legislation places the responsibility firmly on platforms, ensuring that they prioritise child safety.

How Will Platforms in Australia Enforce This Law? It’s not going to be easy..

Enforcing a ban on under-16s having social media accounts presents significant challenges for platforms, particularly when it comes to verifying users’ ages and ensuring compliance. Here’s how platforms might attempt to manage this:

Age Verification Systems: Platforms will likely need to implement stricter age verification systems, such as requiring government-issued IDs, parental consent forms, or real-time video checks to confirm a user’s age. While these methods increase security, they also raise concerns about data privacy and accessibility.

Parental Consent Mechanisms: Social media companies may introduce tools for parents to provide explicit consent for children’s accounts. This could include authentication steps like linking a parent’s account or verifying consent through digital signatures.

AI and Machine Learning: Platforms might deploy AI systems to flag suspicious activity, such as accounts that appear to be created by children bypassing age requirements. However, such systems are not foolproof and often rely on behavioural patterns rather than definitive proof.

Increased Reporting and Moderation: To ensure compliance, companies may need to enhance moderation capabilities and provide simpler ways for users to report underage accounts. This could involve community-driven reporting or partnerships with local authorities.

While these approaches demonstrate potential ways forward, their effectiveness depends on the resources and willingness of platforms to prioritise child safety. Striking a balance between robust enforcement and protecting user privacy will be key—and it’s likely to require ongoing collaboration with regulators.

How to Keep Children Safer Online

For parents, carers, teachers and anyone involved in protecting children’s online presence, small steps can make a big difference:

Avoid Posting Identifiable Details: Refrain from sharing images of children in school uniforms, near recognisable landmarks, or in vulnerable settings like swimming pools. These small details can unintentionally reveal more than you realise about your child’s location or daily routine.

Cover Faces When Possible: Use creative methods to obscure children’s faces, such as emojis, strategic cropping, or posting photos taken from behind. This is a common practice among public figures who wish to share moments without exposing their child’s identity. It gives children a degree of privacy and leaves room for them to decide, later in life, how much they want to share publicly.

Make Accounts Private: Ensure your social media accounts are private, limiting who can see your content. This small step reduces the likelihood of your posts being seen by strangers or misused. Think of it as creating a digital fence—if you wouldn’t let strangers into your garden, why leave the digital equivalent wide open?

Use Close Friends Features: If you want your profile public, platforms like Instagram allow you to share posts with a limited, trusted audience. This feature is particularly useful for sharing special moments with close family and friends without exposing them to the wider public. It’s a great way to balance connection and privacy.

Discuss Boundaries: As children grow older, involve them in conversations about what they’re comfortable with being shared. A funny moment to you might be embarrassing to them. Imagine how you’d feel if a silly clip of you from childhood was brought up at school—let kids have a say in their digital presence.

Educate About Risks: Talk to children about online safety, including the importance of protecting personal information. Help them understand why certain things—like sharing their full name, school, or location—should be kept private. Education empowers them to make safer choices as they start navigating social media on their own.

Final Thoughts

Australia’s decision to introduce strict controls for under-16s on social media highlights the urgent need to prioritise children’s safety online. From the risks of underage accounts to the challenges of managing a child’s digital footprint, the stakes are high—but manageable with the right precautions.

This legislation is likely the first of many steps aimed at creating a safer digital world for children.