Social media ban imposed on children under 16 in Australia

Australia enacted a social media ban on children under 16 on Thursday after an emotional debate that shook the country, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.

The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok to prevent minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). Methods to enforce the ban will begin in January, and the ban is expected to come into force within a year.

The Social Media Minimum Age Act makes Australia a test case for a growing number of governments that have introduced or say they plan to introduce age restrictions on social media due to concerns about the mental health effects of social media on young people.

Countries such as France and some US states have passed laws restricting access for minors without parental consent, but the ban in Australia is absolute. In Florida, the under-14 ban is being challenged in court on freedom of expression grounds.

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Protests in US Congress after House passes bill that could ban TikTok nationwide

Protests in US Congress after House passes bill that could ban TikTok nationwide

The marathon passage of the law on the last day of the Australian parliamentary year marks a political victory for centre-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who will face an election in 2025 as opinion polls weaken.