Australia: Minister for Communications issued Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules, 2025

On 30 July 2025, the Minister for Communications issued the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025, designating the platforms subject to age verification obligations. Starting 10 December 2025, platforms defined as “age-restricted social media,” such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube, must prevent users under 16 years old from joining. In case of non-compliance, platforms face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the minimum age requirement. The rules exclude services such as online gaming, messaging apps, and educational tools.