Australia Implements Groundbreaking Social Media Ban for Minors

Wed Dec 10 2025 13:23:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Australia's strict new social media ban, hailed as a world-first, prohibits children under the age of 16 from having accounts on platforms including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.

Effective today, Australia's social media ban for minors has left many teenagers with suspended accounts. This pioneering law requires social media companies to ensure users below 16 can't create accounts, aimed at safeguarding children from harmful content. While government officials express pride in this progressive move, reactions vary among parents, children, and tech companies, with some believing the ban will help while others foresee challenges in implementation and effectiveness.

Australia's world-first social media ban for children has taken effect, with throngs of teenagers waking up to find their accounts have gone dark.

Others tell BBC they have already snuck past barriers and will continue scrolling and posting freely until they are caught.

The new law means social media firms - including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube - must take reasonable steps to ensure Australians aged under 16 don't hold accounts on their platforms.

The ban, eyed with excitement by global leaders and trepidation by tech companies, was justified as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms - though critics have argued blanket prohibition is neither practical nor wise.

This landmark policy has been one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pet projects, and speaking to media on Wednesday he said he believed it has the power to change lives around the world.

Prime Minister Albanese expressed that this is Australia showing enough is enough, and he believes it will be noted as one of the great reforms Australia has led.

Various governments, from the US state of Florida to the European Union, have been experimenting with limiting children's use of social media. However, Australia is the first jurisdiction to deny an exemption for parental approval in their policy, making it the world's strictest.

The Australian government has named 10 initial social media platforms subject to this law, warning others that additional scrutiny is forthcoming.

Online safety regulator Julie Inman Grant announced that compliance checks would begin soon, and social media platforms could face hefty fines for serious breaches.

Polling indicates that the new law enjoys wide support among parents, who hope it will reduce cyberbullying and child exploitation. However, it has garnered mixed reactions from children themselves.

Supporters like 12-year-old Florence Brodribb believe the ban will allow for healthier development among kids. On the other hand, critics argue that the ban might disconnect children, particularly those from marginalized communities, arguing for more focus on education and moderation instead.

Concerns also persist regarding kids' potential to bypass restrictions easily or seek alternative, potentially unsafe platforms.

As Australia takes this bold step, the global implications of its policy will be observed by countries looking to follow suit.

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