Australia's Landmark Social Media Ban for Under-16s: How It Works and What It Means Globally

Oct 17, 2025 12:46 pm CST

Australia's pioneering social media ban for under-16s takes effect December 10, 2024, prohibiting platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok from allowing young teens to create accounts. This groundbreaking legislation aims to protect children from cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and harmful content, while requiring platforms to implement age verification systems. Despite mixed reactions about privacy concerns and enforceability, the law represents a potential global shift in regulating children's social media access, with countries like New Zealand and Denmark already following Australia's lead.