Australia has become the first country in the world to pass a law banning social media use by children under 16. The ban will come into effect from January 2026 and will cover major social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Reddit. Platforms that violate the law face fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$45 billion). Some platforms, such as YouTube and WhatsApp, used for educational and creative purposes, are exempt.
As the first case of prohibiting use by minors without parental consent, it is likely to have implications for related policies in other countries. However, the fact that it focuses only on restricting use rather than the possibility of circumvention through VPNs and other means of protecting minors online raises questions about its effectiveness.
The bill was introduced in the context of online bullying and youth suicide. As awareness of the negative effects of social media grew in Australia, 77% of the public supported the bill. However, some experts are concerned that the law could further increase the isolation of youth.
Some industry figures, including Elon Musk, have criticized the law as excessive control, and social media companies have criticized it as a hasty legislation that lacks technical measures to protect minors. The law requires platforms to have age verification systems in place and includes measures to strengthen privacy protections.
The bill aims to protect youth, but the debate over its technical feasibility and social side effects is likely to continue.
