Global Social Media Age Restrictions: How Countries Are Protecting Children Online

Australia is pioneering global efforts by implementing the world's first nationwide social media ban for children under 16, effective Wednesday. This landmark legislation will block minors from accessing popular platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

This groundbreaking initiative is drawing significant attention from nations worldwide as they consider similar age-restriction measures amid growing concerns about social media's impact on youth mental health and safety.

In Australia, legislation passed in November 2024 requires major social media platforms to prevent users younger than 16 from accessing their services. Companies failing to comply face substantial penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($32.8 million).

Britain has implemented its Online Safety Act, establishing stricter standards for social media platforms, including age verification systems to protect minors from harmful content. While the law began enforcement this year after passage in 2023, no specific age threshold has been established.

China has developed a "minor mode" regulatory framework that combines device-level limitations with app-specific rules to manage screen time based on users' ages.

Denmark announced plans in November to prohibit social media access for children under 15, with provisions allowing parents to grant exemptions for children as young as 13 to use certain platforms. A parliamentary majority has indicated support for this measure ahead of formal voting.

France enacted legislation in 2023 requiring parental consent for users under 15 to create social media accounts, though implementation has reportedly faced technical challenges according to local media reports.

In Germany, minors aged 13-16 require parental permission to use social media, though child protection advocates argue current enforcement mechanisms are inadequate.

Italian regulations mandate parental consent for children under 14 to register for social media accounts, with no consent requirements for older users.

Malaysia has announced plans to prohibit social media use for individuals under 16 beginning next year.

Norway's government proposed in October 2024 raising the social media consent age from 13 to 15 years, while still allowing parental authorization for younger users. Additionally, the government is developing legislation to establish an absolute minimum age requirement of 15 for social media usage.

The United States enforces the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits companies from collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. Several states have enacted laws requiring parental permission for minors accessing social media, though these have faced legal challenges on free speech grounds.

The European Parliament approved a resolution in November advocating for a minimum social media age of 16 to ensure "age-appropriate online engagement." It also recommended a standardized EU digital age limit of 13 for social media access and video-sharing services. However, this resolution lacks legal enforcement.

Major social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat officially require users to be at least 13 years old to create accounts. However, child protection advocates maintain these controls are insufficient, with official data across several European countries revealing significant numbers of children under 13 maintaining social media accounts.