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AUSTRALIA'S KIDS PHONE LAWS — WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

Australia passed an under-16 social media ban in December 2025, making it illegal for platforms to allow children under 16 to hold accounts. This does not ban phones — but it means any phone that allows social media access puts the compliance burden on parents. A WiFi-only phone with no browser is the simplest compliant option.

Under-16 Social Media Ban State School Policies Parent Compliance Wait Mate Movement

The Law

THE UNDER-16 SOCIAL MEDIA BAN — WHAT IT ACTUALLY SAYS

In November 2025, the Australian Federal Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2025. It came into force in early 2026. The law makes it illegal for social media platforms to allow users under the age of 16 to create or hold accounts. Platforms — not children — face the penalties for non-compliance.

The platforms covered include Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and X. YouTube's status is still being clarified under the platform definitions in the Act. Educational and messaging platforms are not covered in the same way.

The law does not ban phones. It does not ban internet access. It does not prevent children from using devices. What it does do is shift the legal responsibility for age verification onto the platforms — and the practical responsibility for device choices onto parents. If a parent hands a child a smartphone with full internet access, the child can still attempt to access social media. The parent carries the practical compliance burden.

A device with no browser and no app store — like Yaps — eliminates that burden entirely. There is no technical pathway to any platform.

The law targets the platforms. The device choice is still yours.
A phone with no browser makes compliance automatic — not effortful.

State by State

SCHOOL PHONE BANS —
WHERE EACH STATE STANDS

QLD

Queensland

Queensland introduced a mandatory phone ban in state schools from the start of 2024. Students must keep phones in their bags or lockers from the moment they arrive until they leave. Individual schools may go further — some ban devices from the school grounds entirely during the day.

NSW

New South Wales

NSW implemented a state-wide phone ban across all public schools in 2023. Phones must be stored away for the entire school day. Students in Years 7–12 with documented medical or support needs may apply for exceptions. The ban has bipartisan political support.

VIC

Victoria

Victoria was the first state to mandate phone-free schools, introducing the policy in 2020. The ban applies from arrival to dismissal for all year levels. Smart watches with phone functionality are also included. Schools are required to provide alternative communication options for students who need to contact parents.

SA

South Australia

South Australia introduced a mandatory phone ban for all public schools in 2023. The ban covers the full school day, including break times. Secondary students may use phones outside school gates but not on school premises.

WA

Western Australia

Western Australia moved to a state-wide ban in 2024 for all government schools. Phones are not permitted during school hours. The policy was introduced following recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry into student wellbeing and digital distraction.

ACT & NT

Other Territories

The ACT and Northern Territory both have formal guidance discouraging phone use during the school day. Individual schools in both territories have implemented their own bans ahead of any territory-wide mandate.

The direction is consistent across the country: phones are being removed from classrooms. The question for parents is what the child uses outside school hours.

Practical Guidance

WHAT A COMPLIANT
KIDS PHONE LOOKS LIKE

The social media ban does not define a "compliant phone." But working backwards from the law makes the answer clear.

A compliant device for a child under 16 is one that cannot be used to access social media platforms covered by the Act. There are three practical ways to achieve this:

Option 1 — No internet access at all. A WiFi-only phone with no browser, like Yaps, cannot access any website or platform. Compliance is absolute and requires no ongoing parental monitoring.

Option 2 — A dumb phone with no internet. Basic handsets with only voice and SMS, no mobile data, achieve a similar result. These require a SIM card and a monthly plan, and still provide SMS which some parents prefer to avoid.

Option 3 — A managed smartphone with parental controls. Some parents use heavily restricted smartphones with screen-time limits and app blocks. This is the hardest option to maintain — children regularly find workarounds, and the burden of monitoring falls entirely on the parent.

If you want certainty rather than effort, Option 1 is the only approach that is structurally compliant with no ongoing management required.

WAIT

The Movement

WAIT MATE —
THE AUSTRALIAN DELAY MOVEMENT

Wait Mate is an Australian parent movement encouraging families to delay giving children a smartphone until at least Year 8 — roughly age 13 to 14. It is modelled on the US-based Wait Until 8th campaign and has grown rapidly since the social media ban was announced.

The movement is not about banning technology or raising children in a digital vacuum. It is about delaying unsupervised smartphone access until children are developmentally ready to navigate the risks — and giving families a social permission structure to make that choice without their child feeling left out.

Families in the Wait Mate movement often look for a bridge device — something that gives a child communication independence without the full risk profile of a smartphone. A home WiFi phone that can only call parent-approved contacts is the most common recommendation within the community.

Yaps was designed for exactly this use case: a first phone experience that builds voice communication habits without opening a door to the internet.

Common Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Is it illegal for kids under 16 to have a phone in Australia?

No — it is not illegal for children under 16 to own or use a phone. The under-16 social media ban passed in December 2025 makes it illegal for social media platforms to allow children under 16 to create accounts. It does not ban phones, SIM cards, or devices. Parents remain responsible for ensuring their child does not hold social media accounts in breach of the law.

Can schools ban phones in Australia?

Yes. State governments across Australia have introduced policies requiring schools to ban or restrict phones during the school day. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia all have active policies as of 2026. Individual schools may implement stricter rules — including full bans on phones in school bags. Parents should check their child's specific school policy.

What phone is compliant with Australia's social media laws?

Any device that cannot access social media platforms is inherently compliant. A WiFi-only home phone like Yaps has no browser, no app store, and no internet access — the child can only make and receive calls with parent-approved contacts. There is no technical pathway to Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or any other platform. Parents who provide a smartphone — even a heavily restricted one — carry the compliance burden themselves.

What is the Wait Mate movement?

Wait Mate is an Australian parent movement modelled on the US-based Wait Until 8th campaign. It encourages families to delay giving children a smartphone until at least Year 8 (approximately age 13–14). The movement has grown significantly since the under-16 social media ban was announced. Participating families often look for a bridge device — something that allows communication without the risks of a smartphone. WiFi home phones like Yaps are a common recommendation within the movement.

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YAPS

THE PHONE THAT COMPLIES
BY DESIGN.

No browser. No app store. No social media. Just a phone your child can use to call the people you trust — nothing more.

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