Australia enforces nationwide ban on social media use

Australia has officially banned social media use for anyone under 16, becoming the first country to enforce such a rule.

The government says the move aims to protect young users from harmful online content, cyberbullying, grooming, and unhealthy behaviour, reports BBC.

Under the new law, children below 16 cannot open new accounts on 10 major platforms—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Threads, Reddit, X, Kik, and Twitch. Existing underage accounts must also be removed.

Platforms violating the rule could face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.

Companies have been instructed to implement reliable age-verification systems. Methods may include national ID checks, facial or voice recognition, or online behaviour analysis. Self-declared age or parental consent will not be accepted.

Meta has already announced it will start removing accounts of Australian teens from December 4. Users can restore accounts by verifying age with government ID or video selfies. Other platforms have yet to reveal their plans.

Critics argue the policy may be incomplete, as gaming platforms, dating apps, and AI chatbots are not included. Many teens may still bypass restrictions using fake ages, VPNs, or alternative apps.

Despite concerns, the Australian government calls the ban a major step toward safer digital spaces. Communications Minister Anika Wells said, “It might not be perfect at first, and there may be some disruption—but big changes always start this way.”