Canberra, December 9, 2025: Australia is set to become the first country to implement a minimum age for social media use on Wednesday, requiring platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to block accounts of users under 16. The move is expected to affect over a million accounts and could result in fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) for non-compliance.
The law has drawn criticism from major tech companies and free speech advocates but has been welcomed by parents and child protection groups. It marks a major step in global efforts to regulate online content for children, and is likely to be closely watched by lawmakers around the world.
“This is very much the canary in the coal mine,” said Tama Leaver, professor of internet studies at Curtin University. “While Australia is the first to adopt such restrictions, it is unlikely to be the last. Governments globally are observing how Big Tech’s power is being successfully challenged.”
The initiative comes four years after leaked internal Meta documents revealed the company was aware of its platforms’ links to body image issues and suicidal thoughts among teenagers, while publicly denying any such connection.
The eSafety Commissioner, responsible for enforcing the ban, has partnered with Stanford University and 11 academics to study its impact on thousands of young Australians over the next two years.
A spokesperson for the British government, which recently introduced age restrictions on websites hosting adult content, said it was “closely monitoring Australia’s approach to age restrictions” and added, “When it comes to children’s safety, nothing is off the table.”
The Australian rollout closes a year of debate about whether countries can effectively limit children’s access to platforms that are deeply integrated into modern life, setting a potential precedent for other nations considering similar regulations.
