Australians Are Sharing How The Teen Social Media Ban Is Actually Affecting Kids

"Last month, Australia banned social media for kids under 16, becoming the first country in the world to enforce a nationwide social media ban for children. Lawmakers framed the policy as a reset, citing fewer risks, fewer pressures, and fewer kids online before they were ready. Notably, the ban places responsibility on social media platforms rather than parents. Companies are required to verify users' ages and limit access to major services, including YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and Discord."

"Under the policy, platforms are not required to use a single method of age verification, but are expected to take "reasonable steps" to determine whether a user is under 16. In practice, this has meant a mix of approaches, including relying on account birthdates tied to Apple or Google IDs, facial age estimation tools, government-issued identification uploads, or third-party verification services."

"The ban took effect on December 10, 2025, with several other countries watching closely as they consider similar moves. Malaysia, in particular, plans to introduce a comparable ban this year, while Denmark, Norway, France, Spain, and New Zealand are all weighing their own restrictions on teen social media use. Officials from Canada, the UK, and Japan have also been in talks with Australian lawmakers about similar legislation."

Australia implemented a nationwide ban, effective December 10, 2025, prohibiting social media use for children under 16 and making it the first country to enforce such a law. The ban assigns responsibility to platforms rather than parents and requires companies to verify user ages and limit access to services including YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and Discord. Platforms may use varied verification methods — account birthdates tied to Apple or Google IDs, facial age estimation, government ID uploads, or third-party services — with regulators expecting "reasonable steps." Supporters frame the measure as public health; critics warn of uneven enforcement and rerouting. Several countries are considering similar rules.

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