More countries move to ban social media for children after Australia

Governments around the world are tightening rules on minors’ access to social media platforms.

Following Australia, which in December last year became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16, nine more countries have announced plans to draft similar legislation or are considering doing so.

According to TechCrunch, Australia’s law is currently the strictest. Platforms restricted for younger users include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick.

Exceptions were made for WhatsApp and YouTube Kids. Authorities also require tech companies to implement multiple age-verification methods rather than relying on teenagers’ honesty during registration. Violations may result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $34 million).

Denmark plans to introduce restrictions for children under 15 and aims to pass the law by mid-2026. In France, a similar bill banning social media for users under 15 has passed the lower house of parliament but still requires approval by the Senate.

In Germany, a proposal from conservative lawmakers to ban social media for children under 16 has faced hesitation from potential coalition partners. Greece is reportedly close to announcing similar measures. Slovenia is preparing legislation that would restrict platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram for children under 15. Spain is also considering a minimum age of 16 and discussing the possibility of introducing personal liability for social media executives if their platforms are used to incite hatred.

Restrictions are also being actively debated in Asia. Indonesia announced in March plans to block access to YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox for users under 16. Malaysia intends to introduce a similar ban for users under 16 later this year.