Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025

Online Safety (Age‑Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025

made under the

Online Safety Act 2021

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 26 March 2026

Includes amendments: F2026L00370

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 26 March 2026 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).

Application, saving and transitional provisions

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Presentational changes

The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Name

3 Authority

4 Definitions

Part 2—Age‑restricted social media platforms

4A Additional condition a service must satisfy to be an age‑restricted social media platform

5 Classes of services that are not age‑restricted social media platforms

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Part 1—Preliminary

1  Name

  This instrument is the Online Safety (Age‑Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under the Online Safety Act 2021.

4  Definitions

  In this instrument:

Act means the Online Safety Act 2021.

Part 2—Age‑restricted social media platforms

4A  Additional condition a service must satisfy to be an age‑restricted social media platform

Other condition

 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 63C(1)(a)(iv) of the Act, it is a condition that the service has either or both of:

 (a) a recommender feature;

 (b) a logged‑in feature.

Recommender feature

 (2) A service has a recommender feature if the service can:

 (a) select material by reference to any information that the service has associated with an end‑user’s account; and

 (b) display that material to the end‑user while the end‑user is using the service.

Logged‑in features

 (3) A service has a logged‑in feature if the service:

 (a) has one or more of the following features:

 (i) an endless‑feed feature;

 (ii) a feedback feature; or

 (iii) a time‑limited feature; and

 (b) does not enable an end‑user to access, or be exposed to, at least one such feature unless the end‑user is using the service with an account.

 (4) A service has an endless‑feed feature if the service can display material to an end‑user:

 (a) in a feed of material that has no end‑point; or

 (b) in a feed of material that has an end‑point, but to which additional material is added:

 (i) when that end‑point is reached; or

 (ii) at time intervals; or

 (iii) in response to the end‑user’s input.

 (5) A service has a feedback feature if the service can display information to an end‑user about:

 (a) the extent to which other end‑users have viewed or otherwise engaged with material posted by the end‑user on the service; or

 (b) the extent to which other end‑users have opted to receive notifications about the end‑user’s account or material posted by the end‑user on the service.

 (6) A service has a time‑limited feature if the service enables an end‑user to view material that is available to be viewed on the service only within a limited period after it has been posted.

5  Classes of services that are not age‑restricted social media platforms

 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 63C(6)(b) of the Act, electronic services in each of the following classes are specified:

 (a) services that have the sole or primary purpose of enabling end‑users to communicate by means of messaging, email, voice calling or video calling;

 (b) services that have the sole or primary purpose of enabling end‑users to play online games with other end‑users;

 (c) services that have the sole or primary purpose of enabling end‑users to share information (such as reviews, technical support or advice) about products or services;

 (d) services that have the sole or primary purpose of enabling end‑users to engage in professional networking or professional development;

 (e) services that have the sole or primary purpose of supporting the education of end‑users;

 (f) services that have the sole or primary purpose of supporting the health of end‑users;

 (g) services that have a significant purpose of facilitating communication between educational institutions and students or students’ families;

 (h) services that have a significant purpose of facilitating communication between providers of health care and people using those providers’ services.

 (2) In determining whether a service is in any of the classes set out in subsection (1), disregard any of the following purposes:

 (a) the provision of advertising material on the service;

 (b) the generation of revenue from the provision of advertising material on the service.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history