What's blocked in Australia
Under-16s have been banned from major social media since 10 December 2025; adults are unaffected.
- WhatsApp: Works
- Voice & video calls: Works
- Telegram: Works
- Signal: Works
- Discord: Works
- Facebook: Age-gated
- Instagram: Age-gated
- X (Twitter): Age-gated
- TikTok: Age-gated
- YouTube: Age-gated
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
| App | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age-gated | Dec 2025 | ||
| Age-gated | Dec 2025 | ||
| X (Twitter) | Age-gated | Dec 2025 | |
| TikTok | Age-gated | Dec 2025 | |
| YouTube | Age-gated | Dec 2025 | |
| Snapchat | Age-gated | Dec 2025 | Under-16 ban. |
| Age-gated | Dec 2025 | Under-16 ban. | |
| Threads | Age-gated | Dec 2025 | Under-16 ban. |
| Twitch | Age-gated | Dec 2025 | Added to the under-16 ban. |
Not offered in Australia
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
Working normally
Social media
Video, TV & music
Games
The 3 VPNs that fit Australia
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Australia are reporting this week.
Picked for streaming and everyday privacy.
NordVPN
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ExpressVPN
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Surfshark
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Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs CyberGhost, Private Internet Access and Proton VPN
CyberGhost
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Private Internet Access
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Proton VPN
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We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick and how we make money
What's going on
Australia's world-first social media minimum age took effect on 10 December 2025, covering Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Snapchat and Reddit. A study in August 2026 suggested many teens were still getting around it.
Before you connect: Adults use VPNs here for privacy and overseas streaming.
Is a VPN legal in Australia?
Legal
VPNs are legal. The ban places duties on platforms, not on teens, but we do not support using a VPN to get around it.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Are any apps blocked in Australia?
None of the 41 apps we track is fully blocked in Australia right now. Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and 3 more have some restrictions. Under-16s have been banned from major social media since 10 December 2025; adults are unaffected.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Australia?
Hulu, BBC iPlayer and JioHotstar are not offered in Australia. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Australia?
Legal. VPNs are legal. The ban places duties on platforms, not on teens, but we do not support using a VPN to get around it.
Which VPN works in Australia?
Our picks for Australia are NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark. Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Report a block
Seeing something different in Australia? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.