Australia has become the first country to enforce a nationwide ban on social media access for anyone under the age of 16. The law came into effect on Wednesday and applies to major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Threads, Twitch and Kick, according to BBC News.
The law was passed last year with support from both sides of Parliament. It requires tech companies to identify and disable accounts belonging to Australian users under 16. Companies that do not take what the legislation calls “reasonable steps” to remove underage users can face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, which is about 32 million US dollars.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the new rule shows a clear shift in favour of public interest over the influence of large tech firms. “This is the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies,” he said, as quoted by The New York Times.
The decision has sparked international debate about online safety, children’s mental health and the role of governments in regulating digital spaces. Supporters say the ban is necessary to protect young people from harmful content. Critics argue it could isolate vulnerable children and push them to less regulated corners of the internet.
Most of the ten affected platforms say they will follow the new requirements, and some have already started disabling accounts. However, some companies have questioned what they describe as unclear definitions of what counts as a social media service under the law. They warn this could lead to unintended consequences.
With this move, Australia has put itself at the front of global efforts to regulate children’s access to digital platforms. Many observers believe other countries may look to this law as a model for future regulations.
