Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the world’s first social media ban for children under 16. A turning point in restoring parental control over big tech platforms, though he acknowledged that enforcement will be complex. As the law took effect, many children shared goodbye posts while others attempted to evade detection using tricks like drawn-on facial hair. Parents also reported confusion and frustration among young teens suddenly locked out of their accounts. Albanese framed the reform as a global precedent, emphasizing its purpose. Giving children “their childhood back” and granting parents greater peace of mind, while tech platforms face significant fines for failing to comply.
Australia to report by Christmas if social media ban is working
The ban is being enforced by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who said platforms already possess the data and tools necessary to implement age restrictions accurately. She plans to send notices demanding information on enforcement efforts and account removals, with preliminary public findings to be released before Christmas. Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that all targeted platforms have agreed to comply, citing more than 200,000 TikTok account removals already. She warned that young users who temporarily avoid detection will likely be identified later as platforms continuously scan for underage accounts.
Albanese noted that implementation will be imperfect but stressed that the reform challenges tech companies to uphold their social responsibilities.
Father of sextortion scam victim says social media ban is a start
Wayne Holdsworth, whose teenage son died by suicide after a sextortion scam, welcomed the measure as a meaningful first step in protecting children and preventing similar tragedies. Youth advocate Flossie Brodribb, age 12, praised the ban as a bold move that she hopes other countries will adopt. Some families, however, expressed concern about financial implications. Simone Clements, mother of 15-year-old twins who work as performers and influencers, said the ban could affect their income and visibility in the entertainment industry, where social media is vital for exposure.
Privacy commissioner unclear how social media will verify ages
Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said platforms may ultimately need to request age verification from all Australian users but acknowledged the challenges this poses. Verification could rely on ID documents, third-party facial age estimation, or inferences drawn from existing user data. Strong privacy safeguards require platforms to delete any age-verification data collected and prohibit its use for other purposes unless explicitly permitted. The government insists that forcing all users to submit identification is unreasonable, given that platforms already possess enough data to carry out effective age checks. Moreover, companies cannot require government-issued identification as a condition of use.
Reference
McGuirk, R. (2025, December 10). Australia bans social media for children under 16 | AP News. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-under-16-children-8b992efa5138704bc02ee9fc974f6987?user_email=bd2c428b35d2f2d999bc6f7e665bad1355a8dd3247b2afc8121729c30cd9a01a&utm_medium=Morning_Wire&utm_source=Sailthru_AP&utm_campaign=Morning%20Wire%20Dec_10_2025&utm_term=Morning%20Wire%20Subscribers