From December 10, certain social media platforms must take steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts. Account holders on affected apps will be removed and may lose important data and access to groups and services.
The eSafety commissioner has informed platforms they must comply with the age restrictions. Apps like Lemon8 and Yope have been advised to self-assess, indicating they will likely be included in the ban. These apps have surged in popularity as young people seek alternatives.
Users are advised to download or save important data before the ban. Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, warns it will start deleting accounts from December 4. Data downloads can include activity, connections, and personal information, sent via email.
For Snapchat, users can retrieve Snap Memories, History, Bitmojis, and stickers via email settings. Reddit requires a data download request form. Under-16s can still view publicly available content that doesn't require login, such as business landing pages.
The eSafety Commission recommends under-16s note favorite creators and accounts to find them via web browser. An action plan is available to help users list services they will lose and plan how to stay connected.
Users over 16 may accidentally have accounts deactivated; platforms are expected to have correction processes. Youth mental health service Headspace anticipates the ban will be challenging for young people. For immediate help, call Triple Zero (000) in emergencies.
