Australia has made a historic move when it comes to social media: the country has banned children under 16 from having accounts on major platforms. This affects millions of children and teenagers who use popular apps such as: TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, and Threads. This measure aims to protect these minors from risks related to social media, but not everybody agrees with this decision. So, let’s have a closer look at this controversial measure coming from Australia.
Banning minors from using social media
From this month, any user younger than 16 years old must lose all access to these platforms we have previously mentioned. This includes both already existing accounts and new ones. And companies not following this measure, could face fines up to $49.5 million.
The removal process hasn’t been completely smooth. Some teens passed age verification tests, even though the government says the ban won’t be perfect from day one. Major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have confirmed compliance, while X was still finalizing its approach. Smaller platforms, like Bluesky, also decided to follow the rule, even though they have fewer users.
How this affects children and teens
Before the prohibition was implemented, many children went through age verification checks using services like k-ID, which helped confirm their age. Despite this, some teens were blocked while their friends could continue using the apps.
What was the parents and teens’ reaction? Well, there are different opinions about the measure:
- Some teens felt upset about losing contact with friends online.
- Some parents taught their children how to bypass the restrictions using VPNs or adult accounts.
- Other parents welcomed the ban, seeing it as a way to reduce social media addiction and support their child’s well-being.
Australian government on social media
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explained that the law won’t be perfect since day one, but it establishes a clear national standard for the minimum age to use social media, similar to Australia’s legal drinking age of 18.
The government will monitor the ban closely to check how platforms implement it. They will review:
- How many accounts have been deactivated or removed.
- How platforms prevent teens from bypassing the rules.
- How reporting and appeal processes work.
Then, an independent academic group will evaluate the short-term, medium-term, and long-term impacts of the ban, studying whether children:
- Sleep better.
- Spend more time outdoors or on sports.
- Improve academically.
- Reduce the use of medications like antidepressants.
Global impact
Australia’s decision has caught the world’s attention and other countries like Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway, are considering similar restrictions. The European Union has passed a resolution to set age limits on social media, and the UK is closely monitoring Australia’s approach.
So…
If you are a parent or a teen, it is normal to feel frustrated or uncertain about these changes. But this law is designed to keep young people safe, encourage healthy habits, and help them focus on school, sports, and real-life connections.
While the rules may take some time to settle, knowing how they work can help you navigate this new world of social media safely and confidently. So, whether you’re a teen adjusting to life offline or a parent guiding your child, understanding these changes is the first step to making the most of this digital transition.
What do you think about Australia’s decision? Would you agree with banning your child from using social media? For now, more countries are joining this measure, so who knows if this idea will expand to more and more countries. Maybe this will be a common thing in the future.