On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to ban under-16s from holding social media accounts on 10 major platforms.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, passed in November 2024, now requires platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent under-16s from registering, under penalty of fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed students via video message, urging them to 'start a new sport, learn a new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting on your shelf' and to spend quality face-to-face time with friends and family during the upcoming school holidays.
Early December polls by Pureprofile show 73 percent of Australians back the ban, yet only 26 percent believe it will be effective and 68 percent think children will find workarounds. Support is highest among teachers (84 percent) and parents (75 percent), but falls to 62 percent among 16 to 24 year olds.
Most platforms have pledged to comply, but warn that the measure may push young users into darker corners of the internet and raise privacy concerns.
Australia's move has attracted global attention, with Denmark, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia and New Zealand reportedly exploring similar measures.
For business and tech enthusiasts, the law marks a new frontier in age verification and content moderation, and for young global citizens, it may reshape how we connect and engage online.
Reference(s):
Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s takes effect
cgtn.com
