Australia Imposes World-First Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Australia has become the first country in the world to enforce a minimum age for using social media, enacting a tough new law that bars children under the age of 16 from holding accounts on major platforms. The landmark legislation, which took effect on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, shifts the burden of compliance entirely onto the tech companies, not the children or their parents.
The Law and Penalties
The new law, formally known as the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, was championed by the government to protect the mental health and well-being of young Australians from online risks, cyberbullying, and harmful content.
* Banned Platforms: The restrictions apply to a list of platforms determined by the eSafety Commissioner, including:
* Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
* TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X (Twitter), Reddit, Twitch, and Kick.
* Compliance Requirement: Age-restricted platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping an account.
* Fines: Companies face heavy financial penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $32.9 million USD) if they fail to comply with the ban.
* No Penalty for Users: Importantly, there are no penalties for children, parents, or carers who breach the law; the onus for compliance is placed solely on the tech companies.
Tech Industry Response and Implementation
Tech giants, which had initially campaigned against the ban, have since stated they will adhere to the legislation.
* Meta began deactivating accounts from December 4. Affected users are being offered the choice to download their data and either delete or freeze their accounts until they turn 16.
* Snapchat and YouTube are also implementing mechanisms that allow users to download content and disable or lock accounts for reactivation when they turn 16.
* The ban is expected to affect roughly one million children in Australia, including 440,000 Snapchat accounts and 350,000 Instagram accounts held by children aged 13 to 15.
Global Reaction and Controversy
The ban is being hailed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a major cultural change and is being watched closely around the world as a test case for curbing online harms.
* Support: Governments in countries like New Zealand and Denmark are considering similar restrictions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “inspired” by Australia’s policy.
* Criticism: The law has drawn criticism from free-speech advocates, major tech companies, and some children’s rights organizations like UNICEF Australia and Save the Children, who argue that the ban is a “blunt instrument” that could push young users to less regulated parts of the internet or remove a key means of emotional support. The law is also facing a High Court challenge led by a 15-year-old student.