Australia is set to become the first country in the world to enforce a ban on social media use for children under 16, with major platforms required to block younger users by December 10, 2025. The new law will affect platforms including Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

The legislation carries heavy penalties, with fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) for companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply. Hundreds of thousands of Australian adolescents are expected to be impacted, with Instagram alone reporting about 350,000 users aged 13 to 15.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, said it is working to remove all users it understands to be under 16 by the law’s deadline. Younger users will be able to save and download their online histories, and before turning 16, they will be notified that access can be restored with content returned as it was left.

Some popular apps, including Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp, are currently exempt from the ban, though the list of affected platforms remains under review. Meta urged app stores to verify ages and obtain parental approval to simplify compliance and reduce repeated verification across apps.

YouTube has voiced concerns that the ban could make young Australians “less safe.” While under-16s could still access YouTube without an account, they would lose safety filters.

Australia’s Communications Minister, Anika Wells, dismissed this argument as “weird,” emphasizing that age-inappropriate content remains a problem the platforms themselves must address.

The law also addresses broader concerns about mental health and online safety. Minister Wells noted that some Australian teens have suffered severe harm, including suicides, as algorithms targeted them with content that drained self-esteem. She said the law aims to make it easier for children to pursue a “better version of themselves.”

The Digital Freedom Project, an internet rights group, has launched a legal challenge in Australia’s High Court, calling the law an “unfair” restriction on freedom of speech. Meanwhile, authorities warn that some teens may try to circumvent the ban using fake IDs or AI-generated images to appear older.

Platforms are tasked with creating systems to prevent such circumvention, but Australia’s internet safety watchdog has acknowledged that no solution will be 100 percent effective. The law represents a first-of-its-kind regulatory test for social media governance.

Globally, regulators are watching closely. Malaysia has indicated plans to block children under 16 from signing up to social media next year, while New Zealand is preparing a similar restriction. Australia’s approach may influence how other countries manage the growing risks of social media for minors.

The law underscores the tension between digital freedom and child safety, challenging tech companies to balance innovation with protective measures while setting a precedent in global internet regulation.