Australia Enforces Under-16 Social Media Ban in World-First Move

Australia has begun enforcing a world-first ban on social media for children under 16, a landmark move that will see more than one million youth accounts deactivated and has ignited global debate over online safety, free expression and platform responsibility.

The new law, which takes effect Wednesday, requires social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from creating accounts in Australia and to remove or deactivate existing profiles held by minors. Platforms that fail to comply face fines of up to A$49.5 million for serious or repeated breaches. Children and parents will not be penalised under the legislation.

Australian officials say the ban is designed to protect young people from the mental health harms linked to addictive online platforms. Lawmakers approved the legislation late last year following growing concern over children’s exposure to harmful content and predatory algorithms.

“With one law, we can protect Generation Alpha from being sucked into purgatory by predatory algorithms described by the man who created the feature as ‘behavioral cocaine,’” Communications Minister Anika Wells said at the National Press Club in Canberra last week.

The policy has drawn strong reactions both at home and abroad, particularly in the United States, where regulators are watching closely. Supporters argue Australia has set a global precedent, while critics warn the ban could restrict young people’s ability to connect, express themselves and access online support — especially those in rural areas or from marginalised communities.

Two 15-year-olds have already launched a legal challenge against the law at Australia’s highest court.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said the fierce resistance from tech companies underscored the law’s broader significance.
“I’ve always referred to this as the first domino, which is why they pushed back,” she said at an event in Sydney last week.

Major platforms affected by the under-16 ban include Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, X, Snapchat and Reddit, according to the eSafety Commissioner. All have said they will comply. Meta confirmed last month that it would begin closing Instagram, Threads and Facebook accounts held by under-16s from December 4.

Public support for the move remains strong. A YouGov poll conducted last year found that 77% of Australians backed the ban, with many parents saying it could encourage children to focus more on in-person interactions and social development.

The government has cited alarming data to justify the crackdown. A national study commissioned this year found that 96% of children aged 10 to 15 use social media, with seven in 10 exposed to harmful content such as misogynistic material, violence, and posts promoting eating disorders and suicide. One in seven reported grooming-type behaviour, while more than half said they had experienced cyberbullying.

Social media companies, however, argue the ban could have unintended consequences.

“Disconnecting teens from their friends and family doesn’t make them safer — it may push them to less safe, less private messaging apps,” Snap said in a statement.

Platforms have also warned that teens may attempt to bypass restrictions using VPNs or migrate to unregulated apps, potentially exposing them to even greater risks online.

As Australia tests the limits of regulating youth social media use, the outcome is likely to shape global policy conversations on how far governments can — and should — go to protect children in the digital age.