social media ban

June 29, 2026 1:49 PM

Australia gives regulator more power to pursue Big Tech over under-16 ban

Australia introduced new legislation in parliament on Monday to strengthen enforcement of its under-16 social media ban and give its internet regulator more power to pursue tech giants in court for non-compliance. The move comes as evidence suggests children are still able to access the platforms six months after the world-first restrictions took effect in December. Australia’s implementation and enforcement of the ban is being closely watched by dozens of countries who have either created o...

February 3, 2026 10:18 PM

Social media groups face Europe backlash as Spain, Greece weigh teen bans

Spain and Greece on Tuesday proposed bans on social media use by teenagers, marking a hardening of attitudes by European nations against technology platforms they say are designed to be addictive and which can expose children to harmful content. Spain wants to prohibit social media for those aged under 16, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday. Greece is close to announcing a similar ban for children under 15, a senior government source said. They join a host of countries such as Britai...

January 20, 2026 10:58 PM

UK weighs Australia-style social media ban for children under 16

Britain is considering an Australian-style ban on social media for children under 16, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer warning on Tuesday they risk being pulled into "a world of endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison". Starmer said the government was prepared to take robust action, a day after it announced it would examine whether features such as infinite scrolling and the age at which children can access platforms should be restricted and how such measures could be imposed. "This is a hug...

January 15, 2026 6:35 PM

Australia social media ban hits 4.7 million teen accounts in first month

Social media companies have collectively deactivated nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers just a month after a world-first ban on under‑16s took effect, the country's internet regulator said, a sign the measure has had a swift and sweeping impact. The eSafety Commissioner said platforms had so far removed about 4.7 million accounts held by under-16s to comply with a law that went live on December 10. Some platforms had said they would start closing affected accounts ...

December 10, 2025 12:25 AM

Australia’s ban on social media access for under-16s takes effect

Australia has become the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook from midnight. Ten of the biggest platforms were ordered to block children from midnight on Wednesday (1300 GMT on Tuesday) or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) under the new law, which drew criticism from major technology companies and free speech advocates, but was welcomed by parents and child ...