Australia has made global headlines by enacting the world’s first nationwide ban on social media for children under the age of 16, a sweeping move that has ignited debate both at home and abroad. On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the law officially came into force, making it illegal for anyone under 16 to hold accounts on ten of the world’s biggest social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, X, Reddit, and Twitch. The law, which was passed at the end of 2024, positions Australia as a pioneer in digital child protection, prompting other nations to consider following suit.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the day as a milestone for families across the country. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he declared, "This is the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies and they're asserting the right of kids to be kids and for parents to have greater peace of mind." He continued, "This reform will change lives. For Australian kids ... allowing them to just have their childhood. For Australian parents, enabling them to have greater peace of mind. But also for the global community, who are looking at Australia and saying: well, if Australia can do it, why can't we?"
The law’s intention is clear: to shield children and young people from the risks that come with social media use—excessive screen time, cyberbullying, and exposure to content that can negatively impact mental and physical health. Online safety campaigner Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for young people to develop away from the "powerful, invisible forces of opaque algorithms and endless scrolling." Grant noted that her office had submitted notices to the targeted platforms to explain how they monitor accounts suspected to belong to underage users and how many accounts have been closed as a result.
Platforms that fail to comply with the law face severe consequences. Fines for negligence can reach up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 32.9 million U.S. dollars or 27.9 million euros), according to the legislation. While the responsibility for enforcement falls squarely on the platforms, not on parents or children, the government has made it clear that evasion will not go unnoticed. Communications Minister Anika Wells stressed that "platforms have to go back and routinely check under-16 accounts," warning that using tricks like virtual private networks or providing false age information might work in the short term, but will not offer lasting protection.
Despite the bold aims, the rollout has not been without hiccups. In the first hours after the ban came into effect, some under-16 users reported that their accounts remained active, either because they had entered false age information or because the platforms had not yet blocked them. On TikTok, several teenagers commented under a video of Prime Minister Albanese, boasting, "I'm still here," and "Dear Anthony Albanese, I bypassed your ban." The government had previously acknowledged that not all affected accounts would be blocked immediately on December 10. Albanese, however, insisted that the very act of implementing the law was a success in itself: "Success is the fact that it is happening. Success is the fact that we are having this discussion," he said at an event in Sydney, as reported by the Australian news agency AAP.
The law is not without its detractors. Critics argue that the ban is excessive and a "direct attack on young people's right to free political communication." The Digital Freedom Project, an advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court in Canberra at the end of November, representing two 15-year-old plaintiffs. One, a girl named Macy, likened the law to the dystopian surveillance society depicted in George Orwell’s novel "1984." Experts also warn that teenagers may simply migrate to other platforms not covered by the ban, such as messaging services or online games, where monitoring and risk mitigation are even more challenging.
Indeed, the law exempts messaging and email services, voice and video calls, online games, and educational platforms, including popular services like Roblox, WhatsApp, and Messenger. This has led some to question whether the ban will truly keep young people safe or simply push them into less-regulated digital spaces. Still, the government remains steadfast. Albanese described social media as a "scourge" of modern society, insisting it keeps young people away from "a normal childhood with real friends and real experiences." In a video message, he urged children to use the Christmas break to learn an instrument, read a book, or spend time with family—anything but scrolling endlessly on their phones.
The global reaction has been swift. In Europe, Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party—the largest political group in the European Parliament—called for similar measures, arguing that "we must also transfer the rules of the real world to the digital world." Weber advocated for a ban on access under the age of 13 and parental consent requirements for ages 13 to 16. The European Parliament has already voted in favor of an EU-wide minimum age, though the measure is not yet binding. Denmark has reached a cross-party agreement to introduce a national age limit of 15 for social media, while Germany is waiting on recommendations from an expert commission expected by summer 2026.
In the United States, the debate is heating up. A public poll conducted after Australia passed its law in 2024 showed that 59% of American adults would support similar restrictions. Lawmakers such as Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and Senator Katie Britt of Alabama have been vocal advocates for holding tech companies accountable for protecting young users. The Australian model is now being closely watched as a potential blueprint for legislation elsewhere.
Social media companies, for their part, are bracing for legal and logistical challenges. Reddit has reportedly stated it will comply with the requirements, though it finds the law "unacceptable," and is preparing to challenge the ban in court. Other platforms, such as Snapchat, have already taken action by asking hundreds of thousands of users to verify their age, using a combination of user-reported data and behavioral signals. Accounts suspected of belonging to users under 16 have been blocked, with the option to unlock them once the user reaches the legal age.
Albanese acknowledged that the law "won't be perfect," but maintains that it is a vital step in pushing back against big tech and asserting social responsibility. "We are leading the world here, but the world will follow Australia," he told 7News. As the holiday season approaches, the country—and the world—will be watching closely to see whether this bold experiment can truly deliver on its promise to protect the next generation.
