Australia Dec 10 : Australia has become the first country to enforce a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16, a move Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says is aimed at giving children “a childhood” and offering parents greater peace of mind.
Albanese announced that the new rule took effect on Wednesday. He said the decision responds to the pressures young people face from algorithms, endless scrolling, and harmful online content.
“Across Australia, those under 16 are starting their day a little differently — without social media. It’s a big change, but it really matters,” he said. “By banning social media for those under 16, we’re giving children a childhood and parents more peace of mind.”
He added that the shift “takes power back from big tech companies” and places responsibility on them to keep minors off their platforms.
Under the new law, social media companies must prevent anyone under 16 from creating or keeping accounts, or face heavy penalties of up to about 50 million dollars. Children and parents will not face any punishment.
The restriction follows the passage of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 on November 28. Parents cannot override the rule with consent.
UNICEF Australia said the ban aims to protect the mental health and safety of children, citing risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content and online predators. Apps designed for younger users — including Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Google Classroom, Kids Helpline and YouTube Kids — are not expected to be affected.
