Australia has introduced a ban on social media use for children under 16 as part of a broader initiative to enhance online safety.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the measure, outlined in the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, will come into effect on December 10, 2025.
The government stated that the legislation is designed to protect minors from online dangers such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and the addictive nature of social media algorithms.
Under the new law, anyone under the age of 16 will be prohibited from creating or maintaining accounts on major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, and Kick.
In a post on X on Monday, November 9, Albanese stressed that the policy is aimed at protecting young people.
“This is about letting kids be kids. It’s also about empowering parents to be able to have those discussions with their children,” he said in a press release.
He added, “We’re banning social media for under-16s to keep them safe online.”
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