SYDNEY — Australia on Wednesday became the first country in the world to enforce a law banning children under 16 from using major social media platforms, a move welcomed by parents and child safety advocates but criticised by tech companies and free-speech groups.
Starting at midnight local time, ten of the largest platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, were required to block users under 16 or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million). The law has drawn international attention as regulators watch closely to see if it can effectively reduce online harms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the law “a proud day” for families and said it demonstrates that policymakers can address online risks that traditional safeguards have failed to manage. “This will make an enormous difference. It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced,” he said, urging children to explore offline activities such as sports, music, or reading during the upcoming summer school break.
Reactions among children varied. Fourteen-year-old Claire Ni said she felt neutral about the change, while 15-year-old Luna Dizon expressed concern about “culture shock” when access ends completely. Despite the ban, many teens posted farewell messages on social media, and some said they would look for ways to circumvent the restrictions.
The government acknowledged that the ban may not be perfect in execution. About 200,000 TikTok accounts were deactivated by Wednesday, with hundreds of thousands more expected to be blocked in the coming days. An estimated one million children in Australia are affected by the legislation.
The law follows research showing that excessive social media use can harm mental health, including exposure to misinformation, cyberbullying, and damaging body image content. Albanese’s centre-left government said the ban is designed to protect young people while prompting platforms to take greater responsibility.
Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner overseeing the implementation, noted international interest in the policy. “I hear from parents and activists in the United States saying they wish they had a government prioritising tween and teen safety over technology profits,” she said.
Elon Musk’s X became the last of the ten platforms to confirm compliance, stating, “It’s not our choice — it’s what the Australian law requires.” Companies are using a mix of age inference, selfie verification, and identification checks to enforce the ban.
The law has implications beyond Australia, as countries including Denmark, New Zealand, and Malaysia are studying the model for possible adoption. Experts say it marks a new era for social media, with projected declines in user growth and time spent on platforms, as most revenue pipelines depend on younger users.
Prior to the ban, 86% of Australians aged eight to 15 used social media, highlighting the widespread impact of the new legislation.
