What grandparents need to know about new social media rules

Australia is introducing new rules around social media use for young people. These changes will reshape how under-16s interact online.

From December 10, major social media platforms will be required to take active steps to prevent anyone under 16 from holding an account on services defined as ‘age-restricted’.

This applies to platforms where the primary function is public posting, sharing and social interaction. The new framework places legal responsibility on the platforms, not on children or parents.

Until now, most platforms technically set their minimum age at 13, but compliance was largely based on honesty: children could sign up simply by selecting a different birth year. Under the new rules, platforms must demonstrate that they are making reasonable efforts to identify under-age users and restrict access.

While the government has avoided mandating passport or driver’s licence checks for every user, platforms will need to introduce stronger age-assurance systems. These may include AI-based age estimation, behavioural cues, new onboarding processes or additional prompts when accounts appear to be used by younger teens. Each platform will choose its own method, but they will be required to justify that it is effective.

For existing under-16 accounts, companies will need processes to flag and act on them.

Some accounts may be locked until an age is confirmed. Others may be removed.

Notifications and warnings will likely become more common as platforms adjust their systems before the deadline. Families may see more age-related prompts when young people attempt to log in, follow new accounts or create profiles.

The changes mainly affect large public platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X and similar services. They do not apply to communication tools that are not primarily public facing, such as private messaging apps, school learning platforms or services used for family communication.

The rules also do not stop under-16s from using the internet in general,  nor do they restrict access to educational content, entertainment or private communication tools.

While the government has set the broad requirements, much of the practical impact will depend on how each company implements the rules. Some platforms may take a strict interpretation, blocking access entirely unless age can be verified. Others may take a lighter approach and introduce gradual restrictions or periodic age checks.

It is expected that the first few months after this month’s deadline will involve ongoing adjustments as companies refine their systems.

For families, the most noticeable change may be the disruption to routine social media use for young teens. Those who already have accounts may suddenly face new verification steps or find their access limited.

New sign-ups will be far more difficult, and in some cases impossible, until the user turns 16. This is likely to affect how teenagers communicate socially, since many currently rely on these platforms to keep in touch with friends or follow  group activities.

The rules may also encourage a shift toward more private communication channels for younger users. Messaging apps that do not fall under the age-restricted definition are expected to become more prominent among families who still want to maintain contact without exposing children to large public networks.

The introduction of these rules marks one of the most significant shifts to Australia’s online safety framework in recent years. It reflects growing concern about the effect of large social media platforms on young people and the need for clearer protective boundaries.

For grandparents, parents and carers, the key point is awareness.

From this month onwards, young teenagers will experience new barriers  on popular platforms, and households  may see more age-related prompts or account restrictions.

For some teens, it might feel as severe as giving up smoking cold turkey. Keep an eye on your grandchildren and don’t be afraid to hold open conversations about how this will impact their life.

Understanding what the rules require will help families anticipate these changes and adjust accordingly.

 Edin Read is founder and chief technician at Greyology Tech Support for Seniors. Visit greyology.com.au