Indigenous leaders warn under‑16 social media rules risk widening gaps without regional alternatives

Indigenous child and youth advocates are warning Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions could deepen existing gaps for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people unless governments invest in safe, accessible alternatives – particularly in regional and remote communities.

The restrictions have been in effect for five months, following national rules that require major platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from holding accounts. Guidance for young people published by the eSafety Commissioner says that, from 10 December 2025, many social media services are not allowed to let under-16s have an account, and accounts may be removed or deactivated until a user turns 16.

National peak body SNAICC – National Voice for our Children says it supports efforts to reduce online harm but argues policy changes must be matched with practical supports on the ground. Chief executive Catherine Liddle told National Indigenous Times that “removing access to social media cannot be the end of the conversation”, pointing to the role social platforms can play in connection, identity and access to information for young people outside major cities.

In the same report, Western Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Dr Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, said restrictions can land differently in remote areas, where social media can be one of the most reliable ways families stay connected to education, culture, community events and essential services. She warned blanket settings risk unintended consequences if they are introduced without considering those realities.

However, the federal government says services such as messaging, email, voice calling and video calling are excluded from the minimum-age law, along with education and health services. Even so, Liddle argued that if the aim is to help young people spend less time online, governments must also back youth hubs, sporting clubs and Aboriginal-led community programmes that strengthen connection offline.

Debate over the restrictions is also growing beyond the policy rollout. The Guardian reported this week that a 15-year-old Sydney teenager is among two young people challenging the under-16 rules in the High Court, arguing the law restricts political communication for teenagers who use social platforms to engage with news and public debate. The report said millions of accounts have been deactivated since the restrictions began, but some teens have found ways around age-verification checks, raising questions about how effective enforcement will be.

For Indigenous organisations, the central issue remains balance: protecting children from online harms without cutting them off from culture, community and the digital spaces where many have found voice and belonging.