Australia,09,DEC,2025,(India Today News CA):- Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under 16 took effect on December 10, 2025, requiring platforms to block account creation and deactivate existing ones for underage users. This law targets risks like prolonged screen time and harmful content, with platforms facing fines up to A$49.5 million (about $33 million USD) for non-compliance.​
Affected Platforms
Major sites including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, Kick, and Twitch must enforce the ban through age verification. Some gaming platforms like Roblox and Discord have preemptively added restrictions.​
Enforcement and Reactions
Platforms must use “reasonable measures” to verify ages, with Meta already starting to close under-16 accounts beforehand. The policy enjoys support from parents and child safety advocates but faces criticism from tech companies and free speech groups over enforcement challenges and potential isolation of vulnerable youth. Other countries are watching closely as a potential model.
