Australia is set to prohibit social media use for children younger than 16.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the government will enforce a ban on social media for minors under 16 to safeguard their online wellbeing.
The move is part of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which will officially take effect on 10 December 2025.
According to officials, the legislation aims to shield young people from online risks, including cyberbullying, harmful content, and the addictive effects of social media algorithms.
Under the new law, it will be illegal for anyone under 16 to create or maintain accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, and Kick.
Albanese emphasized the intent of the law in a post on X on Monday, saying: “We’re banning social media for under-16s to keep them safe online.”
