"When 15-year-old Carlee Jade Clements wakes up, her first thought is to record a Get Ready With Me video to share with her friends on TikTok. "I love recording everything and posting it the moment I have it," says Clements, who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Like many teenagers, Clements communicates with the world primarily through social media: Snapchat for messaging her friends, Pinterest for inspiration, TikTok for ... well, everything. Unlike many teenagers, she also uses social media professionally; Clements has over 37,000 followers on Instagram, where she often posts product reviews (skin care, slime) and photos from her modeling and acting gigs."
"But as of December 10, 2025, that will change. That's when Australia's Social Media Minimum Age regulation will go into effect, which will prevent Australians under 16 years old from having social media accounts. Globally, people are starting to realize how social media can negatively impact adolescents. Even teenagers themselves are seeing this: Almost half of adolescents in the US claim these platforms harm people their age."
Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age regulation will bar Australians under 16 from having social media accounts beginning December 10, 2025. Major platforms face penalties if they allow under-16s to access services, prompting companies to lock accounts and add age verification. Teen creators who rely on social platforms for social connection, creative outlets, and income expect isolation and disruption. Some platforms, including Meta, have already begun enforcing restrictions early. Wider concern about social media’s negative impacts on adolescents is rising, with many teenagers and surveys reporting harm and prompting policy action.
Read at WIRED
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