Australia Enacts Groundbreaking Social Media Age Ban

Australia on Wednesday introduced a landmark law banning children under 16 from accessing social media, a move Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed as an effort to give families greater control over tech companies and better protect young users.

The law applies to major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Kick, and Twitch. Companies that fail to remove accounts belonging to underage users face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.9 million). The ban will be overseen by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who said platforms already possess the data and technology needed to comply. Notices will be issued to the companies on Thursday, with initial compliance results expected by Christmas.

Reactions have been mixed. Many children posted emotional farewell messages, while others attempted to bypass age checks using face-altering filters or VPNs. Communications Minister Anika Wells cautioned that such attempts are unlikely to succeed for long, as platforms will be required to conduct routine monitoring.

Albanese acknowledged that implementing the ban “won’t be perfect” but said tech companies must shoulder greater social responsibility. Supporters pointed to growing online risks, including the death of Mac Holdsworth, a teenage sextortion victim whose father became an advocate for stronger age protections.

Young campaigners such as 12-year-old Flossie Brodribb welcomed the ban for encouraging safer, healthier childhoods. However, some families in the entertainment industry expressed concern about the impact on social media-driven careers.

Privacy protections form a key part of the new law. Platforms may use existing data, age-estimation technology, or third-party verification services, but cannot require government ID or use collected data for secondary purposes without explicit consent, Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said.

Albanese and other supporters presented the policy as a global first, arguing that Australia’s stance could inspire similar regulation in other countries.