- The app-by-app list
- Is Roblox banned in Australia?
- Is Discord banned in Australia?
- Is WhatsApp included?
- Is YouTube banned for under-16s?
- Are Snapchat and TikTok banned?
- Why the list can change
- How to check an app that isn't on the list
- What this means for parents and small businesses
- Frequently asked questions
Ten platforms are covered by Australia's under-16 social media rules: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. Roblox, Discord, WhatsApp, Messenger, Steam, Pinterest and YouTube Kids aren't covered, according to eSafety's published assessment, which it confirmed again in March 2026.
That's the short version. The longer one matters because the list can change, a few apps have put themselves on it voluntarily, and some of the most searched apps, like Roblox and Discord, sit outside it for a specific reason.
Here's each popular app, what eSafety says about it and what that means for an under-16 in Australia.
The app-by-app list
| App | Under-16 accounts allowed in Australia? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted | |
| No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted | |
| Threads | No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted |
| TikTok | No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted |
| Snapchat | No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted |
| X (Twitter) | No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted |
| YouTube | No account, but logged-out viewing is fine | Named by eSafety as age-restricted |
| No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted | |
| Twitch and Kick | No | Named by eSafety as age-restricted |
| Bluesky and Lemon8 | No | Told eSafety they apply a minimum age of 16 |
| WhatsApp and Messenger | Yes | Messaging is excluded |
| Discord | Yes | eSafety's view is it isn't age-restricted |
| Roblox and Steam | Yes | Online gaming is excluded |
| Yes | eSafety's view is it isn't age-restricted | |
| YouTube Kids | Yes | Not covered |
Dating and live-streaming apps such as Tinder, Hinge, Yubo and BigoLive told eSafety they meet the definition, but they keep their own stricter minimum age of 18.
Is Roblox banned in Australia?
No. Roblox isn't covered by the under-16 rules. The legislative rules exclude services whose sole or primary purpose is letting people play online games with each other, and eSafety listed Roblox among the services it considered weren't age-restricted.
There's a catch eSafety spells out: a gaming service with direct messages, group chats and livestreaming could be brought in if its main purpose shifts. So Roblox is outside today because of how it's used today. Roblox's own account settings still apply on top, and if you're setting up its features we cover how to get voice chat on Roblox.
Is Discord banned in Australia?
No. eSafety's November 2025 list put Discord among the services it considered weren't age-restricted, and its March 2026 review didn't change that. Discord's own minimum age still applies, which is set out in Discord's age requirement, and that's separate from the Australian rules.
Is WhatsApp included?
No. Services whose sole or primary purpose is messaging, voice calls or video calls are excluded, and eSafety lists WhatsApp and Messenger as outside the rules. The same thinking explains why Instagram DMs aren't safe from the ban: they come with an Instagram account, and the account is what's restricted.
Is YouTube banned for under-16s?
Under-16s can't hold a YouTube account, but they can still watch. eSafety's own example of what stays open is that most YouTube content can be viewed without being logged in. YouTube Kids is a separate service and isn't covered. What goes with the account is anything that needs a login: following channels, comments, uploads and a personalised feed.
Are Snapchat and TikTok banned?
Yes, both are on eSafety's list of age-restricted platforms. Their own age checks run on top of that. If a teen's account is deactivated, eSafety recommends downloading Memories, chats and contacts first, because some platforms may delete rather than pause accounts.
Why the list can change
eSafety is clear that it doesn't formally declare which services are in or out. That's ultimately a matter for the courts unless the Minister makes rules naming a service. eSafety publishes its view so families know where things stand, and it will update that view if:
- a service reassesses itself and notifies eSafety,
- a messaging or gaming app adds social features and people start using it like social media,
- eSafety sees under-16s moving in large numbers to an app that's currently outside the rules.
Platforms that aren't restricted must report a big jump in under-16 users to eSafety as part of their self-assessment. So if a friend says an app is about to be added, check eSafety's own Which platforms are age-restricted page before believing it.
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How to check an app that isn't on the list
eSafety only names a handful of services, so for anything else you can run the same test it uses. An app is likely to be covered if all of these are true:
- Its sole or significant purpose is letting people interact with each other online.
- You can connect with, follow or interact with other users.
- You can post your own material.
- It recommends content to you, or it has features that only work when you're logged in.
- People in Australia can see its content.
Then check the exclusions. If its main job is messaging, calls, gaming, education, health or professional networking, it's probably outside the rules. If you're still unsure, the app's own Help or Support pages should say whether it applies an Australian minimum age of 16.
What this means for parents and small businesses
For families, the practical list is short: messaging apps, gaming apps, Pinterest and logged-out YouTube still work. For a business, it means teen-heavy audiences on the covered apps will shrink, while your public pages and videos stay visible. If that's your crowd, your website and email list matter more than ever. The full rules, including age checks and scams, are on our guide to Australia's social media ban.
My honest take: don't plan around the current list as if it's permanent. Plan around the principle, which is that anything built for social posting and recommendations is likely to be covered.
Frequently asked questions
Is Roblox banned in Australia for under 16s?
No. Online gaming services are excluded, and eSafety listed Roblox as not age-restricted. That could change if the way Roblox is used shifts towards social media features.
Is Discord included in the Australian social media ban?
No. eSafety's view is that Discord isn't an age-restricted social media platform, and its March 2026 review didn't change that.
Is WhatsApp banned for under 16s in Australia?
No. Messaging services are excluded from the rules, so WhatsApp and Messenger stay available to under-16s.
Can under 16s still watch YouTube in Australia?
Yes. They can't hold a YouTube account, but they can watch most videos without logging in. YouTube Kids isn't covered.
Who decides which apps are covered?
eSafety publishes its view and enforces the law, but a court has the final say unless the Minister makes rules naming a service.
