Australia becomes the first country to impose a full social media ban for under-16s

Australia has enacted a nationwide ban preventing children under 16 from using social media, marking the strictest law of its kind anywhere in the world.

The restriction covers ten major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and others. These companies must block underage users or face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 33 million USD), Reuters reports.

The move has split public opinion. Major tech firms and civil liberties groups have opposed the ban, while parent advocacy organizations and child-protection experts have supported the tighter controls. Experts in digital policy say the law signals a broader global shift and suggest Australia is unlikely to remain the only country to adopt such measures.

The ban concludes a year of debate over whether it is technically and legally feasible to restrict children’s access to platforms that have long been woven into their daily lives. Australia is now effectively launching a “live experiment,” the outcomes of which will be closely watched by lawmakers worldwide who are frustrated with how slowly tech companies roll out safety measures for minors.

Governments in Denmark, Malaysia and several U.S. states have already signaled interest in adopting similar rules. The wave of proposals follows a leak of Meta documents four years ago, revealing that the company was aware of the harmful effects its services have on teenagers’ mental health but publicly denied the issue.

Although the law currently names ten platforms, officials say the list will be updated as new services emerge and teenagers migrate to alternative apps. All of the mentioned platforms, except Elon Musk’s X, have confirmed they will comply with the regulations and employ age-verification methods such as activity-pattern analysis, selfie checks, identity documents or linked bank account data.