Australia Bans Teens from Social Media Apps, Igniting a Global Policy Test

Australia on Wednesday became the first country to formally bar users under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, a move that will be closely monitored by global tech companies and policymakers.

The ban, which took effect at midnight local time, targets ten of the biggest services: Alphabet’s YouTube, Meta’s Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, and Elon Musk’s X, among others.

The rule compels platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under‑age access, using age‑verification methods such as activity‑based inference, facial estimation from selfies, uploaded ID documents, or linked bank details.

All of the targeted platforms have pledged to comply to some degree. X was one of the last holdouts but announced on Wednesday that it would meet the requirements.

Millions of Australian children are expected to lose access to their social accounts overnight. The broader impact could be even more significant, as the policy sets a benchmark for other governments examining teen social‑media bans, including Denmark, Norway, France, Spain, Malaysia and New Zealand.

A YouGov poll conducted before the legislation’s passage found that 77 % of Australians supported an under‑16 social‑media ban. Despite broad public backing, the rollout has encountered resistance.

Proponents argue the measure shields children from known harms—cyberbullying, mental‑health challenges, and exposure to predators and explicit content.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of *The Anxious Generation*, welcomed the ban, linking the mental‑health crisis among youth to smartphone and social‑media use.

In a post on X, Haidt praised Australian policymakers for “freeing kids under 16 from the social‑media trap,” adding that early difficulties were expected and that other nations would likely follow.

Critics contend that the ban infringes on freedom of expression, raises privacy concerns through invasive verification, and represents overreach that undermines parental responsibility.

Amnesty Tech labeled the measure an “ineffective quick‑fix” that ignores younger generations’ rights, calling for stronger data‑protection laws, better platform design, and universal regulations rather than age‑gating alone.

David Inserra of the Cato Institute warned that children could evade the policy by shifting to alternative platforms, private messaging apps, or VPNs, pushing them into more isolated environments with fewer safeguards.

Technology firms, including Google, have flagged enforcement challenges, citing the inaccuracy of current age‑verification tools—particularly selfie‑based estimation software.

Local reports on the first day indicated many teens had already circumvented the ban using VPNs and that age‑assurance tools misidentified users.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese likened the rollout to liquor laws, acknowledging early imperfections but emphasizing the value of a clear national standard.

Experts expect a trial‑and‑error approach. Terry Flew, professor of digital communication at the University of Sydney, noted “teething problems” and said it was unrealistic to expect a complete disappearance of under‑16 users on day one.

The Australian experiment will be watched closely by tech firms and legislators worldwide as more countries contemplate similar restrictions.

“Governments are responding to shifting public expectations about the internet, and companies have not been particularly responsive to moral suasion,” said Flew. “We see similar pressures emerging, particularly in Europe.”

The European Parliament recently passed a non‑binding resolution advocating a minimum age of 16 for social‑media access, allowing parental consent for ages 13‑15, and proposing bans on addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay for minors.

Beyond Europe, Malaysia and New Zealand are advancing proposals to limit social‑media use for children under 16, though the specifics of age‑verification and enforcement are likely to differ from Australia’s approach.

Tama Leaver, professor at Curtin University and chief investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, said, “My hope is that countries looking to implement similar policies will monitor what doesn’t work in Australia and learn from those mistakes.” She added that platforms are beginning to realize that unless they improve safety for younger users, they will face age‑gating mandates worldwide.