Stop the Social Media Ban for Australians Under 16
The Australian Government is introducing a law that will ban people under the age of 16 from having social media accounts, set to take effect on December 10, 2025.
a direct violation of the rights of young Australians
This ban is disproportionate, unfair, and a direct violation of the rights of young Australians to free expression, access to information, and connection in the digital world.
Social media is the new town square, a place where ideas are shared, voices are heard, and communities are built. Locking young Australians out of this space will not protect them; it will isolate them and silence their voices.
The Government’s own Human Rights Commission has warned that the ban could breach international instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Despite this, the Government is pressing ahead with a policy that will force social media companies to collect massive amounts of personal data and identification documents, putting Australians’ privacy and digital security at risk.
We all agree that keeping kids safe online is important but there are smarter, safer, and more balanced ways to achieve that without extinguishing the rights of young Australians. Parents, not politicians, should decide when their children are ready to be online.
smarter, safer, and more balanced ways
We all agree that keeping kids safe online is important but there are smarter, safer, and more balanced ways to achieve that without extinguishing the rights of young Australians. Parents, not politicians, should decide when their children are ready to be online.
.svg)