Australia enacts world-first social media ban for under-16s
Australia has implemented a world-first nationwide ban on social media access for users under 16, effective from December 10, 2025. This law requires major platforms to remove underage accounts and block new ones using age verification methods. Tech companies face fines up to AU$49.5 million for non-compliance.
Platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, Reddit, YouTube, Kick, Twitch, and Threads must enforce the ban. YouTube offers a child-friendly version for younger users, while messaging apps like WhatsApp are exempt. Parents and children face no penalties.
Companies must take “reasonable steps” like facial recognition, selfies, or ID checks to verify ages, with a trial of these technologies concluding earlier in 2025. The policy aims to protect youth mental health from addictive designs and harmful content. Implementation began December 9-10, affecting millions of accounts.
Parents have mixed views, with some relieved and others worried about kids’ social isolation or shifts to unregulated apps. Critics, including Amnesty International, argue it could drive users to the dark web or infringe privacy. The law passed in late 2024 amid rushed debates.
