Australia announced a nationwide ban on children under 16 from using major social media platforms starting December 10. The government added Reddit and livestreaming platform Kick to the existing list of restricted sites, which already includes Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Threads, X, and YouTube.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the law imposes a world-first requirement for platforms to delete accounts belonging to underage users. Any platform that fails to take reasonable measures could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.3 million).
“We have met with several social media platforms so they know there’s no excuse for ignoring this law,” Wells told reporters in Canberra. “Online platforms already use advanced technology to track children. We expect them to use the same tools to protect children online.”
Australia’s Watchdog to Oversee Enforcement
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, will enforce the new restrictions. She said the list of banned platforms will evolve as new technologies emerge. The government classified the nine restricted sites as platforms whose “main or significant purpose is enabling online social interaction.”
Inman Grant said her office will collaborate with researchers to assess the law’s effects. “We’ll study whether children sleep better, interact more, or become more active,” she explained. “We’ll also monitor for unintended consequences and gather data so others can learn from our approach.”
The initiative has drawn international attention. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Australia’s “common sense” policy at a United Nations forum in New York. Denmark’s ambassador to Australia, Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, said her government will study Australia’s model as it drafts similar protections for children.
Debate Over Privacy and Effectiveness Grows
Critics argue the new law could compromise user privacy by requiring everyone to prove their age online. Wells countered that the government will ensure user data remains protected. “We want to keep people’s information private while keeping children safe,” she said.
More than 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter opposing the restriction. They warned that setting an age limit was “too blunt an instrument” to address complex online risks.
Despite the criticism, the Australian government insists the ban represents a major step toward curbing the harms of social media on children. Officials said they expect other countries to adopt similar legislation once its impact becomes clear.
