eSafety: Promoting Safer Online Experiences in Australia
eSafety’s mission is to protect Australians from online harms and encourage safer, positive online experiences. Using the powers under the Online Safety Act 2021 (effective 23 January 2022), eSafety works to prevent harm, enforce compliance, and support better outcomes for all users.
Where possible, eSafety collaborates with online service providers to resolve complaints. When this is not enough, robust regulatory measures are applied to protect Australians.
Key Areas of Focus
1. Regulatory Approach
- eSafety aims to prevent online harm and improve safety standards.
- Works with service providers to address complaints and assess systemic issues.
- Applies graduated enforcement measures or immediate action when necessary.
- Uses a fair, transparent, and evidence-based approach to reduce harm and encourage improvements.
- For full details, see the eSafety Strategy 2022–25.
2. Compliance and Enforcement
- eSafety has powers under the Online Safety Act 2021 and the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014 to encourage compliance.
- Updated October 2024: Compliance and Enforcement Policy PDF (600KB)
3. Social Media Minimum Age
- From 10 December 2025, social media platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating accounts.
- Guidance includes:
- Identifying age-restricted social media platforms
- Ensuring compliance with children’s rights
- Reporting and enforcement procedures
- Social Media Minimum Age Guidance PDF (597KB)
4. Online Safety Codes and Standards
- Platforms must comply with class 1 and class 2 material regulations, split into:
- Unlawful Material: Reducing child exploitation and pro-terror content
- Age-Restricted Material: Preventing children from accessing online pornography, violent content, or self-harm material
- Mandatory compliance dates:
- Unlawful Material: since 22 December 2024
- Age-Restricted Material: phased rollout to 9 March 2026
- Online Safety Codes and Standards Guidance PDF (1.85MB)
5. Basic Online Safety Expectations
- Applies to social media, messaging, gaming, app services, and websites.
- Ensures providers take reasonable steps to protect Australians online.
- Basic Online Safety Expectations Guidance PDF (2.74MB)
6. Adult Cyber Abuse
- Reporting scheme for Australian adults facing harmful online abuse when providers fail to act.
- Updated November 2025
- Adult Cyber Abuse Scheme Guidance PDF (512KB)
7. Cyberbullying
- Protects children from bullying across all online platforms, not just social media.
- Updated January 2025
- Cyberbullying Scheme Guidance PDF (407KB)
8. Image-Based Abuse
- Platforms must remove abusive images targeting individuals.
- Updated November 2025
- Image-Based Abuse Scheme Guidance PDF (2.2MB)
9. Online Content Scheme
- eSafety actions to address illegal or restricted content under the Online Safety Act 2021.
- Updated January 2025
- Online Content Scheme Guidance PDF (529KB)
10. Abhorrent Violent Conduct
- Powers to prevent Australians from accessing content that promotes, instructs, or depicts abhorrent violent acts.
- Updated January 2025
- Abhorrent Violent Conduct Guidance PDF (372KB)