In two days, on 10 December 2025, Australia’s social media ban takes effect. Social media users under the age of 16 will be blocked from having accounts to a number of social media services. Apple is doing its part.
As part of iOS 26.1, users under the age of 16 had two settings automatically enabled by Apple. Web Content Filtering and Communication Safety block access to ‘adult websites’ and other content.
Apple has sent a message to parents and carers of children who use Screen Time, letting them know that it enabled some safety features when the child updated to iOS 26.1.
Apple hasn’t explicitly linked these new default settings to Australia’s new social‑media ban. But the timing seems conspicuous. And with more than half of the states in the USA now requiring age verification to access certain online services, it seems that Apple is getting on the front foot of what seems to be a global trend.
Whether you agree with the ban or not, the reality is that there is a push by government to intercede because social media and online businesses have failed to act.
Government over-reach
Personally, I favour empowering parents and carers to help their kids make better online decisions. Expecting the government to legislate in this way opens the door to significant government intervention.
Leigh 🙂 Stark at Pickr has covered this issue extensively. His work on covering this ban – the government calls it an age restriction rather than a ban which is bit like saying something is not black but just very dark – is excellent.
The list off banned/blacked services includes:
- Kick
- Snapchat
- Threads
- TikTok
- Twitch
- X
- YouTube
The list is not legislated and can be changed at the government’s discretion. Already, it has games, like Roblox in its sights, which have a chat function as well as emerging social media services including Lemon8.
There are concerns with the haste with which this ban was enacted and the discretionary nature of what can be banned. It seems that the government had its hand forced by some sections of the media who played the “What about the children?” card.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.