Australia bans social media for children under 16

Australia becomes the first country in the world to completely ban social media for children under 16

Australia has become the first country in the world to introduce a complete ban on the use of social media for children under 16 on 10 December. This was reported by The Guardian.

TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, and Threads are all subject to the new regulations, which require them to delete accounts of minors and block the registration of new profiles for teenagers.

Stiff fines and age control

Companies face a fine of up to $49.5 million for violating the rules.

Most platforms have already agreed to comply, with the exception of social media X, which did not provide confirmation.

In recent weeks, Australian regulators have been using facial identification and other verification methods to establish age.

Public support and global attention

According to polls, two-thirds of Australians support the initiative.

The Australian experience has already attracted international attention: Malaysia, Denmark and Norway have announced their intention to introduce their own bans, and the UK is considering similar steps.