Australia Bans Social Media for Kids Under 16; PM Says It Will Restore Their Childhood

Canberra (The Uttam Hindu): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the country’s world-first social media ban for children under 16 will ensure that young people get back their childhood. He thanked state and local leaders on Tuesday for supporting the ban, which will come into effect from Wednesday. Albanese also admitted that this reform may require some short-term adjustments.

He said, “This is the cultural change Australia needs to give parents more peace of mind and ensure that Australian children have a safe childhood.” Under the laws passed by the Federal Parliament in November 2024, certain social media platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts.

The government says the move aims to reduce the negative impact of social media, which encourages excessive screen time among youngsters and exposes them to harmful content that can affect their health and development. A government study conducted in early 2025 found that 96% of children aged 10–15 used social media, and seven out of ten of them had encountered harmful content including misogyny, violent material, and content promoting eating disorders or suicide.

So far, 10 major platforms have been directed to enforce the ban Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick, and Reddit. Authorities may update the list when necessary. In a video message shown to students across Australian schools, Albanese said the government made this change to support children growing up under the pressure of algorithms and social media feeds.

Under the new rules, neither children nor parents will be punished for violating the ban. The responsibility for enforcement lies solely with the platforms. Platforms that commit serious or repeated violations could face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 32.8 million USD). However, the government has acknowledged that age-verification technology may take time to identify all underage accounts.