Social media age restrictions consultation
eSafety has consulted on the best way to implement social media age restrictions for children under 16.
On 5 May 2025, eSafety called for members of the Australian community, experts and online service providers to express their interest in being consulted on the best way to implement social media age restrictions for children under 16. This included informing eSafety’s development of guidelines that certain social media platforms will have to follow when the new Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 comes into effect.
eSafety received 256 expressions to participate in the consultation on the guidelines. In selecting participants, we ensured representation from a broad range of perspectives – including diverse voices from across Australia and the international community.
eSafety held multi-stakeholder roundtables and single stakeholder consultations between June and August 2025. We engaged with more than 345 people representing over 160 organisations. This included speaking directly with children and young people to inform our approach to social media age restrictions.
A survey was also sent to more than 150 people who had expressed an interest, but who had not been selected for targeted consultation. We received more than 35 responses to the survey.
On this page:
What did eSafety consult on?
Social media age restrictions for Australians under the age of 16 are due to take effect by 10 December 2025. The age restrictions will be implemented in line with the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024.
The new law requires age-restricted social media platforms to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent children under 16 from having an account on their platform. eSafety’s consultation process is about gathering insights to inform the development of guidelines about those reasonable steps.
The consultation process focused on how eSafety implements its functions under the Act – not on the contents of the legislation itself, which has already been passed by Parliament.
Read more about the social media age restrictions.
How we selected participants for targeted consultation
Every expression of interest was reviewed by eSafety. Selection for targeted consultation was informed by these key principles:
- Representatives from organisations were generally selected rather than individuals.
- Peak bodies (where available) were consulted, including eSafety’s National Online Safety Education Council which has representatives from the Australian Government’s Department of Education, as well as state and territory representatives from government, independent and Catholic education sectors.
- Digital platforms directly impacted, and entities with expertise in age assurance and complementary safety technologies were prioritised.
- Civil society, academia, and groups representing children, young people, parents and carers based in Australia were prioritised.
- We also ensured diverse perspectives and experiences were included from:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- people with disability
- people who identify as LGBTIQ+
- people from regional and remote areas
- older Australians (who may also be affected by restrictions).
Summary of consultations
The documents on this page are high-level, anonymised summaries of the targeted consultations. The views and opinions in the summaries are those of the stakeholders and do not reflect eSafety’s position.
The individuals and organisations who participated provided knowledge or experience in the following areas:
- Child or youth perspectives from a diverse range of communities
- Parent and carer perspectives from a diverse range of communities
- Age assurance and/or safety technology
- Social media platform technical expertise
- Technology regulation or policy
- Child safety and rights
- Digital rights
- Online safety education.
Participants discussed:
- the use of age assurance technologies and implementation considerations
- the possible impacts on users of age-restricted social media platforms, including in relation to protective factors that support and build resilience for young people and families, as well as possible impacts on privacy and digital rights
- possible circumvention or unintended consequences of the age restrictions, and how to reduce these
- how to help eSafety understand how best to effectively communicate changes to the community, including to young people, parents, carers, educators and frontline workers.
Download the consultation summaries
More information
Social media 'ban' or delay frequently asked questions: Find out the facts about the social media age restrictions that will help keep Australians under 16 safer.
Which platforms are age-restricted? Find lists of the services that, in eSafety's view, will and will not be age-restricted.
How to assess if a service is an age-restricted social media platform: Online service providers can use the assessment guidance to see whether their services are age-restricted social media platforms.
Social Media Minimum Age regulatory guidance: eSafety has published regulatory guidance to help platforms decide which methods are likely to be effective and comply with the Online Safety Act.
Statement of Commitment to Children's Rights: Read our approach to implementing the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Other related content:
- eSafety stands ready: Read eSafety’s statement, issued when the Online Safety Amendment received Royal Assent.
- Australian Government fact sheet: Read information on the new legislation to enforce a minimum age for access to social media, and the age assurance technology trial.
- Youth perspective: Read eSafety’s research into young people’s attitudes towards online pornography and age assurance.
- A fairer fight: protecting childhood and adolescence in a digital world: Read the eSafety Commissioner's speech about how age assurance technologies form an important part of a holistic approach to protecting children online.
Last updated: 04/11/2025