Australia has announced a landmark ban on social media use for children under 16 in a move aimed at protecting minors from online harm.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the restriction is part of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which will officially take effect on December 10, 2025.
The new legislation seeks to shield children from cyberbullying, harmful content, and the addictive nature of social media algorithms that experts say are taking a toll on young users’ mental health.
Under the law, it will be illegal for anyone below 16 years to create or maintain accounts on major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, and Kick.
Albanese, in a post on X on Monday, said the decision was about giving children back their childhood while helping parents take control.
“This is about letting kids be kids,” he wrote. “It’s also about empowering parents to be able to have those discussions with their children.”
The Prime Minister added, “We’re banning social media for under-16s to keep them safe online.”
The Australian government noted that enforcement will involve cooperation between tech companies and regulators. Platforms will be required to introduce stronger age-verification systems to block underage users.
Online safety advocates have hailed the move as a bold step toward curbing digital addiction and online abuse. However, some civil rights groups have expressed concerns about privacy risks tied to age-verification processes.
Despite the debate, the Albanese administration insists the policy balances child protection with parental freedom, calling it a “necessary step for the digital age.”