Melbourne, Australia — Australia has become the first country in the world to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, after Parliament passed landmark legislation in November 2024 that will take effect by the end of 2025.
The impact of the internet on children online presents a complex picture with both significant benefits and concerning risks that researchers are still working to fully understand.
The Online Safety Amendment Act requires social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts, with platforms facing fines of up to AUD$50 million for non-compliance. The ban received strong public backing, with 77% of Australians supporting the measure according to recent polling.
Rapid Parliamentary Passage
The legislation passed through Parliament on November 29, 2024, despite opposition from privacy advocates and some child rights groups. The bill was fast-tracked with limited time for public consultation, overriding recommendations from the government’s own parliamentary inquiry committee which had not endorsed an age ban.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese championed the legislation as necessary to protect children’s mental health and wellbeing, stating it would “give kids back their childhood and parents their peace of mind.”
Platform Coverage and Implementation
The ban will restrict access to designated social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and TikTok. However, YouTube is exempt due to its educational use and dedicated kids’ channel.
Social media companies will first be required to identify all users under 16 on their platforms, with enforcement beginning gradually rather than through an immediate shutdown of under-age accounts.
Technology platforms had complained the law would be unworkable and urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June 2025 when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies reports on how young children could be excluded.
Digital Landscape Statistics
As of 2024, Facebook remains Australia’s most used social media platform, with 78.2% of internet users aged 16 to 64 using it monthly, while Instagram engages 62.4% of the same demographic.
Recent data from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner shows TikTok has experienced significant growth among teens, rising from 12% usage in 2017 to 38% in 2020, while 44% of teens reported having a negative online experience in the six months leading up to September 2020.
Mental Health Concerns Drive Support
The legislation gained momentum following a parliamentary inquiry that heard evidence from parents whose children had self-harmed due to social media bullying.
International research indicates more than 1 in 10 adolescents (11%) show signs of problematic social media behavior, with girls reporting higher levels than boys (13% vs 9%). Some tech news blogs show that games such as the F95 fun zone for adults is also showing problems
A survey by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner found that 95% of caregivers view online safety as a major challenge, providing strong parental support for the new restrictions.
Opposition and Concerns
More than 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter criticizing the ban, arguing it oversimplifies complex issues and could infringe on young people’s rights to information and privacy. Mental health groups and human rights advocates have similarly expressed concerns.
Under the new law, parents cannot provide consent to allow their under-16 children to use these platforms, placing legal responsibility entirely on the technology companies rather than families.
Enforcement Timeline
The social media ban will take effect by December 2025, giving platforms approximately one year to develop and implement age verification systems. The success of enforcement mechanisms and their actual impact on child safety remain to be seen as Australia embarks on what experts describe as an ambitious social experiment.
The legislation positions Australia as a global test case for social media regulation, with other countries closely watching the implementation and effectiveness of the world-first age restrictions.
