Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under 16 will ensure they have a proper childhood, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.
Albanese wrote to the leaders of Australia’s states and territories to thank them for their support for the social media ban, which comes into effect on Wednesday. He acknowledged that the reform may require some short-term adjustments.
“This is the cultural change Australia needs to deliver greater peace of mind for parents and ensure Australian children have a childhood,” he said.
Under laws passed by the federal parliament in November 2024, certain social media platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. The government said the move aims to reduce the negative impact of social media’s design features that encourage young people to spend more time on screens and expose them to content that can harm their health and wellbeing.
A study commissioned by the government earlier in 2025 found that 96 per cent of children aged 10–15 used social media, and seven out of 10 had been exposed to harmful content, including misogynistic and violent material as well as content promoting eating disorders and suicide.
So far, 10 social media platforms have been instructed to enforce the ban: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick, and Reddit. Authorities may update the list as needed.
In a video message to be shown in schools across Australia, Albanese said the government had introduced the change to support children who have grown up with algorithms, endless social media feeds, and the pressures they bring.
Neither children nor their parents will be punished for breaching the ban; enforcement responsibility rests entirely with social media platforms. Platforms that commit serious or repeated breaches could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $32.8 million). However, the government acknowledged it may take time for age-assurance technology to identify all underage accounts.
(IANS)
