Australia to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 16

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced today that its government will introduce a law to ban social media for children under 16. Albanese said this decision is anticipated to be in effect against major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X by the end of 2025.

In his address, Albanese said, “Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” and pointed out the risks of harmful body image portrayals for girls and misogynistic content targeting boys. “If you’re a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, it can be a really difficult time,” he added.

The Australian government is testing age-verification methods, including biometric scans and government IDs, to enforce the ban. These methods would make Australia the first country to use such technology to block underage access to social media.

“There will be no exemptions for children who have parental consent or who already have accounts,” said Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. “The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access.”

Other countries, like France and the United States, have also set age limits for social media use, but Australia’s approach is the most restrictive to date.