Social Media Changes

Important Update: New Social Media Laws for Under 16s

From 10 December 2024, new national laws under the Online Safety Amendment (social media Minimum Age) Act 2024 come into effect. These laws require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or holding an account.

Why the Change?

The aim is to:

• Protect children and young people from online harm.
• Reduce exposure to inappropriate content.
• Support age-appropriate engagement online.

The eSafety Commissioner has classified the following platforms as age-restricted:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Snapchat
• X (formerly Twitter)
• YouTube
• Twitch
• Reddit

Other platforms like WhatsApp or Discord are not currently age-restricted but still pose privacy and safety risks if used for direct communication between adults and minors.

Note: Compliance is the responsibility of social media platforms, not individual users.

What This Means for Clubs and Committees

Many clubs use social media or messaging apps to communicate with riders, parents, coaches, and volunteers. Under these new laws, members under 16 may lose access to these platforms, which could impact communication.

As a child-safe organisation, we have a duty of care to ensure all communication with under-16s and their families is transparent, accessible, and compliant.

Recommended Actions

• Review your communication channels
  Identify all tools your club uses and note which are age-restricted or allow unsupervised adult–child messaging.

• Use email as your primary communication tool
  Email is the safest and most reliable option. It provides a clear record, supports parental inclusion, and ensures messages reach verified members.

• Explore safe communication tools (if needed)
  If you use an app-based tool, ensure it:
  - Is not age restricted.
  - Allows administrator approval and parent oversight.
  - Does not enable private messaging between adults and minors.
  - Meets child-safety and privacy standards.
• Communicate the change clearly to members and families
  Explain:
  - What's changing under the law.
  - Why your club is updating communication practices.
  - How members can stay connected.

More Information & Resources

- Social Media Age Restriction Hub: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age...
- Parent and Carer videos: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/social-media-age-restrictions#talking...
- Social media 'ban' or delay FAQs: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age...
- Parent and Carer webinars: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
- Parent and Carer resources: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources
- eSafety Guide: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide
- Online safety for every family: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources/online-safety-for-every-family
- Counselling and Support: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/counselling-support-services

Videos:

- Parental controls: https://vimeo.com/612389757
- Cyberbullying and online drama: https://vimeo.com/582320787
- Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse: https://vimeo.com/595727241