Australia begins enforcing world-first teen social media ban

[Santosh1976]

Australia begins enforcing world-first teen social media ban​

Australia has become the first country to ban social media for children under 16 from Wednesday (December 10, 2025), blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook. 🍵

Ten of the biggest platforms were ordered to block children from midnight (1300 GMT on Tuesday) or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) under the new law, which drew criticism from major technology companies and free speech advocates, but was welcomed by parents and child advocates.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it “a proud day” for families and cast the law as proof that policymakers can curb online harms that have outpaced traditional safeguards. 🍵

“This is the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies,” Mr. Albanese told ABC News.

“New technology can do wonderful things but we need to make sure that humans are in control of our own destiny and that is what this is about,” he said.

In a video message that Sky News Australia said would be played in schools this week, Mr. Albanese will urge children to “start a new sport, new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there for some time on your shelf,” ahead of Australia’s summer school break starting later this month. 🍵

The rollout caps a year of debate over whether any country could practically stop children from using platforms embedded in daily life, and begins a live test for governments worldwide frustrated that social media firms have been slow to implement harm-reduction measures.

Several countries from Denmark to New Zealand to Malaysia have signalled they may study or emulate Australia’s model, making the country a test case for how far governments can push age-gating without stifling speech or innovation. 🍵

‘Not our choice’: X says will comply​

Elon Musk’s X became the last of the 10 major platforms to take measures to cut off access to underage teens after publicly acknowledging on Wednesday that it would comply.

“It’s not our choice - it’s what the Australian law requires,” X said on its website.

“X automatically offboards anyone who does not meet our age requirements.” 🍵

Platforms say they earn little from advertising to under-16s, but warn the ban disrupts a pipeline of future users. Just before the ban took effect, 86% of Australians aged eight to 15 used social media, the government said.

Australia begins enforcing world-first teen social media ban

Australia enforces a world-first social media ban for under-16s, aiming to protect children from online harms, despite mixed reactions.

www.thehindu.com

 

[Pirthpall Sekhon]

Meta and Facebook ran advertisements soliciting investment in a fraudulent financial company. Now under Australian law media companies are required to pay compensation to investors who lost their money. Truth has it's own power and creates it own momentum Trump has seized a ship off Venezuela, those who think they can cheat, tell lies and sell contraband are in for a shock. Yes 2026 seems to be imminently arriving soon.

 

[Santosh1976]

Australia has banned social media for under-16s & governments from Denmark to Malaysia - and even some states in the US, say they plan similar steps.🍵​

https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/?f=flair_name:"Society"
Doesn't this miss the core problem? Social media is divisive, dishonest & addictive by design. Great that one country is protecting kids from it, but it doesn't change Big Tech.

Why does the rest of the world have to go to so much trouble to protect billions of people from a tiny number of bad people?

People spend money on home security because they don't know who the burglars are, but here we know exactly who we need to deal with, and there aren't very many of them either. 🍵

https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/?f=flair_name%3A%22Society%22

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Australia is set to become the first country to implement a minimum age for social media use, with platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube forced to block more than a million accounts, marking the beginning of an expected global wave of regulation. 👍

From midnight local time (1pm Irish time), ten of the biggest platforms will be required to block Australians aged under 16 or be fined up to A$49.5 million (€28 million).

The law received harsh criticism from major technology companies and free speech advocates, but was praised by parents and child advocates. 🍵

The rollout closes out a year of speculation about whether the country can block children from using technology that is built into modern life.

Governments from Denmark to Malaysia - and even some states in the US, where platforms are rolling back trust and safety features - say they plan similar steps.

"While Australia is the first to adopt such restrictions, it is unlikely to be the last," said Tama Leaver, a professor of internet studies at Curtin University. 🍵

"Governments around the world are watching how the power of Big Tech was successfully taken on. The social media ban in Australia is very much the canary in the coal mine," he added. 🍵


Beginning of the end 🍵

Though the ban covers ten platforms initially, including YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, the Australian government has said the list will change as new products appear and young users switch to alternatives. 🍵

Of the initial ten, all but Elon Musk's X have said they will comply using age inference - guessing a person's age from their online activity - or age estimation, which is usually based on a selfie.

They might also check with uploaded identification documents or linked bank account details.

Mr Musk has said the ban "seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians" and most platforms have complained that it violates people's right to free speech.

An Australian High Court challenge overseen by a libertarian state politician is pending.

For the social media businesses, the implementation marks a new era of structural stagnation as user numbers flatline and time spent on platforms shrinks, studies show.

Platforms say they do not make much money showing advertisements to under-16s, but they add that the ban interrupts a pipeline of future users.

Just before the ban took effect, 86% of Australians aged eight to 15 used social media, the government said.

"The days of social media being seen as a platform for unbridled self-expression, I think, are coming to an end," said Terry Flew, the co-director of University of Sydney's Centre for AI, Trust and Governance.

Platforms responded to negative headlines and regulatory threats with measures like a minimum age of 13 and extra privacy features for teenagers, but "if that had been the structure of social media in the boom period, I don't think we'd be having this debate," he added.

Australia social media ban for under 16s to take effect

Australia social media ban for under 16s to take effect

Australia is set to become the first country to implement a minimum age for social media use, with platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube forced to block more than a million accounts, marking the beginning of an expected global wave of regulation.

www.rte.ie

 

[Pirthpall Sekhon]

Exactly. We know who the handful of people are. How is it possible for them to allow fake people advertise bid coins and scams on line. They even have fake photos fake videos and allow ordinary folks be swindled. 2026 is coming and Trump may send missiles on their headquarters. Suddenly the black web which is a fish trap created by the US Navy and was operated with its mouth open to encourage the fish to clean the sharks teeth is gonna spring shut. That's why those rich lawbreakers were pardoned when they spoke the truth, nothing but the truth, were released. All the information is there, all the money may be reimbursed to the victims. Truth has it's own power and momentum. Returning people's sweat and blood money back will make American strong. I hope China which has sentenced the criminals to death actually makes restitution to their victims. 2026 all criminals assets should be confiscated and money returned to the victims. That is how we eight billion people will become 9 billion