Australia’s World-First Social Media Ban for Under-16s: What It Means

Australia has introduced a new law that stops children under the age of 16 from having their own social media accounts on major platforms. This rule began on 10 December 2025, making Australia the first country in the world to try something like this.

Under the new law, big social media companies must make sure that people under 16 cannot create or keep accounts on popular platforms. If companies fail to stop under-16s from having accounts, they could be fined up to AUD 49.5 million (about $32 million) for each violation.

This change does not punish children or their parents, only the social media companies are responsible for enforcing it.The rules apply to many of the most widely used apps, including:

• TikTok

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Snapchat

• X (formerly Twitter)

• YouTube

• Reddit

• Twitch

• Threads

• Kick

Children under 16 will no longer be allowed to log into, post on, or own accounts on these platforms. However, they might still be able to view some public content without logging in but they won’t be able to interact, message or post.

Supporters of the law argue this is an important step toward keeping children safer online, especially given concerns about mental health, stress and harmful content. Schools and community groups are being encouraged to help parents and students understand the changes. The Australian government says it expects that, over time, families will adapt to the new rules much like they did with other age-based safety laws.

At the same time, many people question whether a ban is the right approach. Some worry it may reduce digital literacy, limit young voices online or push children into other online spaces that are harder to regulate. Others argue that better digital education and safety features might be a more effective way to protect children without cutting them off completely.

Australia’s social media rule is being watched by other countries and some countries including parts of Europe and courts in India are considering similar proposals to protect children online.