Which platforms are age-restricted?
Many social media platforms are required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from having accounts. This law came into effect on 10 December 2025.
This page lists a number of services which eSafety considered, prior to 10 December 2025, were likely age-restricted social media platforms and required to comply with the social media minimum age (SMMA) obligation, as well as others it considered were not likely age-restricted social media platforms and not required to comply with the SMMA obligation. It also lists some services that have assessed themselves to be age-restricted social media platforms.
This page does not list the status of all social media platforms in terms of the SMMA obligation and the information on it may change as the services themselves change.
On this page:
Background
In the lead up to 10 December 2025, eSafety was conscious that young people, families and the general public wanted to know which services were (and were not) required to comply with the SMMA obligation.
Because of this, eSafety considered whether a number of different services met the conditions for an ‘age-restricted social media platform’. On 21 November 2025, we published a list of 10 services that we considered would likely be age-restricted social media platforms from 10 December 2025. At the same time, we published a list of 11 services that we considered would likely not be age-restricted social media platforms.
Given how many online services are operating in Australia at any particular time, and the way they are constantly evolving, it’s not possible for eSafety to maintain an exhaustive list of all services that we consider meet the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform. Instead, to promote public understanding and awareness, this page provides:
- the 21 November 2025 lists (these will only be updated if and when eSafety reconsiders a service and changes its position on whether it is age-restricted, or is considering compliance or enforcement action in relation to a service that has not yet been assessed)
- information about services which have notified eSafety of their view that they are age-restricted social media platforms (services are not obliged to notify eSafety, so this is unlikely to be a complete list).
November 2025 lists
These lists reflect eSafety's views as at 21 November 2025.
Inclusion in the lists does not necessarily mean that each service agrees with eSafety’s views.
Services eSafety considered were age-restricted social media platforms
Services eSafety considered were not age-restricted social media platforms
Self-assessment notifications
These are services which have notified eSafety of their view that they are age-restricted social media platforms and have agreed to being listed on this page.
- BlueSky
Formerly for those aged 13+, BlueSky applies a minimum age of 16 for Australian account holders. eSafety notified on 12 November 2025. - Match Services: Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, Plenty of Fish, Match.com and Azar (as well as other smaller services)
Match has indicated these services meet the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform, but it will continue to apply and enforce a minimum age of 18 for these services. eSafety notified on 30 September 2025. - Yubo
Yubo has indicated that its service meets the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform, but it will continue to apply and enforce a minimum age of 18 years. eSafety notified on 6 November 2025. - Wizz
Wizz has confirmed its service meets the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform. Wizz will apply a minimum age of 16 for Australian account holders. eSafety notified on 13 January 2026. - Lemon8
Lemon8 is developed by ByteDance, the creators of TikTok. ByteDance has confirmed that Lemon8 meets the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform. Lemon8 will apply a minimum age of 16 for Australian account holders. eSafety notified on 15 December 2025. - BigoLive
BigoLive has indicated its service meets the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform, but it will continue to apply and enforce a minimum age of 18 years. eSafety notified on 29 January 2026.
Important information about these lists
- eSafety does not have a formal role in declaring which services are age-restricted social media platforms. In the absence of any rules made by the Minister of Communications specifying a service is either an age-restricted social media platform or not an age-restricted social media platform, any determination that a service is or is not an age-restricted social media platform is a matter for the court.
- eSafety will not be considering every service. eSafety continues to focus on those services with the greatest number of Australian users under the age of 16 and will consider, among other factors, the services’ use of features and functions associated with risks of harm to children, and whether the service already has established practices to prevent under-16s in Australia from having accounts (for example, where the service applies and enforces a minimum age of 18).
- The Commissioner must believe on reasonable grounds that a service meets the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform before eSafety can exercise any statutory powers, such as giving the service a notice requiring information about its compliance with the SMMA obligation.
- One of the key considerations is whether a service’s sole purpose, or a significant purpose, is to enable online social interaction between two or more end-users. This requires consideration of a range of factors, including the service’s features and functions and how people use the service. These factors can change over time.
- Material relevant to eSafety’s consideration of services includes:
– relevant provisions in the Online Safety Act and the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025
– eSafety’s Regulatory Guidance and self-assessment tool
– eSafety’s own user testing of the service
– information on the service’s website (including policies and procedures)
– the service’s media releases and public communications
– insights from relevant research or third-party reports and other publicly available information
– how the service is described on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
– the service’s communications with eSafety, including any data and submissions provided to eSafety about the service. - Services operating in Australia should assess whether they meet the conditions for an age-restricted social media platform and are therefore required to comply with the SMMA obligation. Services should continue to reassess themselves as they evolve.
- If a service notifies eSafety that it has assessed itself as being an age-restricted social media platform, this will not necessarily result in eSafety conducting an assessment of the service, or in eSafety actively monitoring the service’s compliance with the SMMA obligation. But eSafety may choose to publish information for public transparency in consultation with the service.
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Last updated: 10/02/2026