Australia Bans Social Media For Children Under 16 Years

Australia has become the first Country in the world to ban children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts.


The law which was passed under the Online Safety Amendment Act took effect on December 10, 2025.

The law requires major platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to delete existing underage accounts and block new ones, with fines of up to 50 million AUD for non-compliance platforms.

On the day the law passed, child accounts across multiple social media apps were deleted. This swift enforcement aligns with the government’s commitment to protect young people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been a vocal supporter, even suggesting kids pick up a book instead of scrolling during a school visit.
Children posted farewell messages with hashtags like #seeyouwhenim16 and some kids reportedly tried to trick facial recognition tech with fake facial hair