TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat under-16 app ban comes into effect; Anthony Albanese lauds decision
It was May 2024 when Nova 96.9 host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli launched 36 Months with Rob Galluzzo, founder of production company Finch.
The campaign is named for the 36 months between ages 13 and 16, which researchers say is a critical stage in children’s psychological development.
“Imagine a product, such as a shampoo, that when used by children causes half of them to become depressed, self-harm, develop an eating disorder or become suicidal,” Wipfli wrote for this imprint in June 2024.
“They would be ripped off the shelves and their owners would be locked up with blood on their hands. I wish I could say I’m exaggerating, but the harsh truth is that children under the age of 16 are not yet ready to navigate social media safely.”
The federal government later announced in September 2024 that it planned to limit young people’s use of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. In November 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that children under 16 would be banned from accessing social media, and the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 was given royal assent on 10 December 2024, exactly a year before it is implemented.
“Today, December 10, 2025, went down in history as the day the law changed after the Australian government chose the welfare of young people first,” Wipfli said to applause and cheers at a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney today.
“This is an important day. They have chosen to put the welfare of Australian families first, and the Australian government has shown the world that it is okay to tell big tech: ‘Stop, this isn’t working and we can do better for our children’.”
“We ran a campaign with one goal in mind: to raise the age at which children become social media platform citizens from 13 to 16. Only 36 months. That’s all we wanted. A chance for children to know themselves before the world.”
