We’ve all seen the news by now: on the 10th of December, Australia banned all social media for anyone under the age of 16. If you listen closely, you can hear the sobs of Australian tweens desperately trying to log into their TikTok accounts from the other side of the world.
Though this ban has been on the cards for a while, much like when America attempted to ban TikTok, nobody thought it would actually go through, but to everyone’s surprise, they’ve followed through – take some notes, Trump.
A recurring point of conversation is, in such a social media-dependent world, how will this ban affect businesses going into 2026?
At Blaze, we make it our business to get the dirt on any major public event, especially when it involves social media, and in this guide, we will give you some more insight into the ban and what it means for businesses.
What Australia’s Social Media Ban Actually Includes
Ok, when we say EVERY social media platform has been banned, we might be being a bit dramatic.
The list of banned social media for under 16 year olds in Australia includes:
- Snapchat
- Threads
- TikTok
- X
- YouTube
- Kick
- Twitch
For now, under-16-year-olds still have access to YouTube Kids, Google Classroom and WhatsApp, so Meta still has at least something to hold onto.
But with so many major platforms hit by this ban, it’s no surprise that businesses are worried.
Will the Social Media Ban Come to the UK?
As of right now, there are no plans for social media to be banned in the UK, so there’s no need to worry about the UK market as of right now, but it’s certainly worth keeping in mind.
Why the Government is Introducing the Ban
The ban was implemented to safeguard kids under the age of 16 from exposure to harmful content, as well as to address other significant risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming, and exploitation. This measure has ignited lively debate over the past week, shining a spotlight on its significant implications for both protecting young people and preserving digital freedom.
The current question seems to be, what is valued the most? When it should be, how can we make both possible?
How This Could Impact Businesses
If you’re a UK-based business that trades internationally, you might be worried about how the social media ban might affect your business, especially if you get a lot of your sales through social media. Some ways the ban will affect your business include:
Reduced Youth Reach
If you’re a brand that targets under-16s, you should expect to lose organic reach. When it happens, the figures might be scary. Unfortunately, it’s something you’re going to have to strategise for, which is why we so strongly believe that businesses should have a social media marketing agency on their side who can help them understand these scary metrics and make preparations.
The industries most likely to be affected are youth-centric ones, such as fashion, gaming, and even sports, so if you fall under these categories, make sure to prepare yourself.
Shift in Advertising Strategies
Something that is already starting is businesses shifting their advertising strategies, and if your business isn’t doing the same, you need to get started quickly.
If you have a youth-focused business, it’s time to pivot, unless you’re a brand that’s specifically designed to provide Australian-themed gifts for children, then you may need a bit more time to mull it over and maybe even scream into a pillow.
For other businesses, it’s time to start targeting an older demographic or at least making your brand more family-focused, so that at least parents might want to engage with your company, and you can still get your products in their intended hands.
Something that we’ve noticed businesses already doing is looking into in-school or retail partnerships, instead of appealing directly to their target consumer through social media.
Restrategising doesn’t necessarily have to be drastic, but it does need to be clever, and if you’re not already working with a social media marketing team that can get you on the right track, get your skates on because the clock’s ticking.
Greater Focus on First-Party Data
As social touchpoints become fewer, businesses may turn more to email, SMS, apps, and loyalty programs to stay connected with customers. It’s all about adapting to new ways of building relationships and keeping engagement alive.
We’re not saying it’s time to start going door-to-door with flyers, but looking beyond social media is certainly something your business should consider. This incident underscores the importance of ensuring your website is up to date and equipped with features that help boost your business and reach new audiences.
Changes in Social Media Metrics
Something that all businesses should expect is a decrease in engagement as under-16 audiences disappear. This is a good opportunity not only to rethink your expectations but also to brainstorm new ways to increase this engagement.
Sure, the news of the ban isn’t great, but that doesn’t mean businesses should jump to digging their own graves; instead, they should focus on ways to refresh their businesses and come back stronger than ever.
Potential Opportunities for Brands
When one door closes, another opens, and businesses should be looking at opportunities in the ban, because they are definitely there, you might just have to squint a bit…
Parental-Targeted Messaging
Your business could focus on stronger, more targeted messaging to parents of the people you usually aim to appeal to. And honestly, this might even be better for your business, after all, they’re the ones with the jobs and bank cards.
Showing Leadership in Online Child Safety
While other businesses complain that the ban is unfair (which we don’t dispute), you have a real opportunity to demonstrate leadership in child online safety. Because, let’s face it, as inconvenient as this ban is for businesses, the safety of our children is important.
By showing support for this ban, you can still connect with your target audience and position your brand as something that brands marketed to under-16s can only dream of: forward-thinking, dependable, and parent-friendly.
Providing alternative routes for your usual audience to still enjoy your brand is a way for you to highlight that you do, in fact, care and that you’re willing to make the necessary adjustments.
What this Means for the Future of Social Advertising
Over the last few years, you may have heard a million times that social media is the be-all and end-all for businesses, and this ban highlights that this may not be the case. We aren’t saying you should delete your social media accounts, as social media remains a leading channel for connecting with your customers, but it’s important to have other marketing channels in place.
Social media isn’t going anywhere (unless you’re under 16 and live in Australia) and despite the current social media ban, there are still 194 other countries in the world that still use social media, which means that you can still continue your efforts and boost traffic to your business through relatable videos and attention-grabbing content.
Nobody knows if and how long this ban will last, but it has certainly been the wakeup call that businesses need to shake up their marketing approach, and what better way to do that than with a marketing agency on your side?
Overcome the Ban with Blaze
More than ever, businesses need marketing experts on their side to help them navigate how the ban may affect them. You need a marketing agency that understands trends, can offer a quick solution and is home to social media whizzes.
And here we are.
At Blaze, our team is ready to help you ensure your business is making the most of multichannel marketing and is always strategising to grow and perform better.
Get in touch with us to find out how we can help today.
