Australia Bans Under-16s From Social Media

Australia has introduced a pioneering law that bars children under 16 from creating or holding social media accounts, with the legislation taking effect in December 2025. This national ban aims to safeguard children's well-being and preserve their childhoods.

Ten major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, are subject to these restrictions. Companies must implement measures to prevent underage users from signing up or circumventing the rules, facing potential fines of up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance. Parents and children will not face penalties.

The government was compelled to act following extensive inquiries into online harms and powerful testimony from abuse victims. Similar age restrictions are now being considered by the European Union and over ten member states, as well as New Zealand and Singapore.

Platforms are exploring age verification, estimation, and inference methods to comply, though perfect enforcement is not expected. Major social media companies reported blocking 4.7 million underage accounts shortly after the ban's implementation, suggesting an encouraging initial response.

Arguments against the ban include concerns about pushing youth to riskier online spaces and the potential compromise of private data used for age checks. However, public support for the ban in Australia remains high, with a survey indicating 77% backing.