Australia bans social media for under-16s in landmark global move

(Web Desk): A global debate is intensifying over the effects of social media on children. Experts warn that excessive social media use at a young age not only increases stress and anxiety but also negatively impacts education and daily life. In response to these concerns, Australia has taken a major step by announcing a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16.

According to British news agency Reuters, Australia has directed social media companies to use minimally invasive methods to block access for users under 16. This is the world’s first law imposing such a restriction on youth access to social media, and it will come into effect in December.

The country’s internet watchdog, eSafety, has stated in its guidelines that companies are not required to re-verify the age of every user, but can instead use existing data and artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate whether a user is a child or an adult.

eSafety is a government agency that monitors the online space with the primary goal of keeping users — especially children and teens — safe on the internet.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated, “If companies can target us with ads in highly sophisticated ways, then they can also accurately estimate a child’s age.” She also noted that adult users should not experience major changes, as re-verifying everyone’s identity would be inappropriate.

The restriction will also apply to YouTube, which had initially been granted an exemption, but other major platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Snapchat, and TikTok had objected to that exemption.

Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells said: “We can’t control the ocean, but we can control the sharks.”

She added that companies must take concrete steps to shut down underage accounts, stop re-registration attempts, and establish complaint systems.

This law was passed in November 2024, giving companies one year to prepare. Now, by December 10, all underage users’ accounts must be deactivated.