By late 2025, new legislation mandates that Australians must be 16 to use social media. On November 28th, Australia’s senate passed a social media ban with 34 votes to 19. This margin was representative of the latest polls, which reported that 77% of Australians supported a ban.
The landmark decision will apply to Instagram, X, Snapchat, and TikTok, among many other platforms. Non-compliance could result in banned companies facing fines upwards of $32 million.
Unlike past attempts by other nations, the Australian ban does not include exceptions for those with parental consent. Instead, Australia’s government plans to test novel age-verification software in the coming months.
“We want our kids to have a childhood and parents to know we have their backs, ” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters.
He continued, saying these measures were necessary to protect children from the “harms” of social media. Many parent groups have echoed similar sentiments.
Meanwhile, others, like 58-year-old Shon Klose, were critical of the ban. “I’m feeling very angry. I feel that this government has taken democracy and thrown it out the window.”
Youth advocates shared similar perspectives, claiming the government does not understand its role in their lives. They also accused the government of excluding them from parliamentary debates about the ban.
Meanwhile, many students in Australia were ambivalent about the ban.
“It will only create a generation of young people who will be more technologically literate in bypassing these walls. It won’t achieve the desired effects, ” Enie Lam, a 16-year-old Sydney school student, told Reuters.
Experts share a similar view, expressing their concerns about children flocking to more suspicious corners of the internet.
Despite its controversy, the ban has made waves worldwide. A new Texas bill outlines a social media ban for minors. Lawmakers will consider the ban in January.
For more information:
Australia approves social media ban on under-16s
Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere – or even there?
Australia’s under-16 social media ban sparks anger and relief
Bill filed in Texas Legislature wants to ban social media for minors
