Australia bans under-16s from major social media platforms, imposing heavy fines for non-compliance, in a landmark move to protect youth mental health.
SYDNEY: Australia has become the first nation to enforce a ban on social media access for children under 16.
The law, effective from midnight, orders ten major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to block underage users or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the reform as a proud day for families and a significant cultural shift.
“This will make an enormous difference,” Albanese told a news conference.
He described it as one of the biggest social changes the nation has faced, a reform he believes will reverberate globally.
Ahead of the summer school break, Albanese encouraged children to pursue offline activities like sports or reading.
In the hours before the ban, an estimated one million affected children began posting farewell messages online.
One teen on TikTok wrote, “No more social media… no more contact with the rest of the world.”
Another used the hashtag “#seeyouwhenim16.”
The rollout follows a year of debate on the practicality of such a ban and positions Australia as a test case for other governments.
The government cited research linking youth social media overuse to mental health harms, including misinformation, bullying, and negative body image.
Countries from Denmark to New Zealand and Malaysia have indicated they may study or emulate the Australian model.
Elon Musk’s platform X was the last of the ten to confirm compliance with the new regulations.
“It’s not our choice – it’s what the Australian law requires,” X stated on its website, noting it automatically offboards users who do not meet age requirements.
Platforms will use a mix of age inference from user behaviour, age estimation via selfie, and checks involving ID documents or bank account details.
For social media companies, the ban threatens a pipeline of future users, despite earning little from advertising to under-16s.
Government data shows 86% of Australians aged eight to 15 used social media just before the ban took effect.
Some young people have expressed concerns that the ban could lead to isolation.
Fourteen-year-old Annie Wang said it might be worse for queer people and those with niche interests who find community online.
“Some people also use it to vent their feelings and talk to people to get help,” she said, suggesting the ban could worsen mental health for some. – Reuters
