Australia Bans Social Media for Those Under 16

Australia is now the first country globally to ban social media access for individuals under 16. As a result of this federal government initiative, millions of children and teens will no longer be able to use popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Kick, Twitch, and Reddit.

In Canberra, while parents and children won’t face penalties for violating the ban, businesses could incur hefty fines—up to A$49.5 million (around US$32 million, £25 million)—for non-compliance with the law.

Interestingly, according to reports, Reddit is one of the few companies explicitly stating whether they are adhering to this new policy. In a recent statement, they mentioned, “While there are differing opinions on the scope, effectiveness, and privacy implications of this law, as of December 10, we have made several changes consistent with these requirements.”

However, Reddit added that it couldn’t verify local media claims about possibly challenging the restrictions legally.

Yet, many believe this law is misguided.

AFP indicates that Instagram alone has about 350,000 users in Australia aged between 13 and 15, meaning the ban will impact countless young individuals. While some popular platforms like Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp will not be affected, the complete list is still being considered.

On Tuesday, the alternative platform Bluesky announced it would also implement a ban on users under 16, even though it has been rated as “low risk” by eSafety due to its smaller Australian user base of approximately 50,000.

Shortly before the ban took effect, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed young people in a video, urging them to understand the reasoning behind the decision. “From December 10th, anyone under the age of 16 will be prohibited from having a social media account,” he stated, acknowledging the pressures of growing up with social media. “That’s why we’ve taken this step to support you.”

Polling data shows a significant portion of the population supports raising the minimum social media age to 16. This move places Australia at the forefront of efforts to limit teenage access to social media, but it might not be alone for long. Malaysia has announced plans to block children under 16 from creating accounts next year, while New Zealand may also consider a similar approach.