Australia Social Media Ban: Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the country will ban social media platform for children less than 16 years.
What does the Australia Social Media Ban mean?
Australia has become the first country in the world to ban social media for children under the age of 16 from December 10, 2025. This would mean that teenagers in Australia would not be able to access platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 has been projected by the Australian government as a fix for a range of complex issues. The government argues that the Australia social media ban will reduce bullying, protect children from online harm, and limit exposure to addictive design.
Australia Social Media Ban Penalties
Under the new laws, ten of the biggest platforms were ordered to block children from midnight (1300 GMT on Tuesday) or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million).
The Australia Social Media Ban drew criticism from free speech advocates and major tech companies, but it was widely welcomed by child advocates and parents.
PM Albanese called it a “proud day” for families, and added that policymakers can curb online harms that have long outpaced traditional safeguards.
Will the Australia Social Media Ban succeed?
The Australian government has presented the law as a powerful tool but it somehow doesn’t solve many of the problems.
For instance, bullying is a social problem that happens in homes, communities and schools. It can move to group chats, gaming platforms and messaging apps.