Australia becomes first country to enforce nationwide social media ban for under-16s

Australia is now the first country to enact a nationwide social media ban for children and teenagers under the age of 16 on ten major platforms. The eSafety Commissioner of Australia has enforced this new legislation and prevents teenagers from accessing Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Threads, and YouTube.

These social media platforms are now required to implement “reasonable steps” to prevent underage users from using their platforms, or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million, or roughly $33 million USD.

The social media ban in Australia has drawn scrutiny from users around the world, while governments in other countries are adopting similar measures to restrict teenagers and children from using popular platforms. This is being done in an effort to curb the mental health impact of social media on growing children.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says that the ban aims to protect young Australians from “pressures and risks that users can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts. These come from design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their mental health and wellbeing.”

The social media platforms were selected based on three principles: online social interaction among users, the ability to post content, and the ability to share links among users. For now, the list of banned platforms consists of ten platforms, but could be expanded depending on regular reviews.

The strange part is that this ban doesn’t currently affect gaming-centric apps like Discord, Roblox, and Steam, which have been under scrutiny for years for child exploitation. That is because this law doesn’t include gaming-focused apps or standalone messaging services.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the ban a historic reform, stating, “This will be one of the biggest social and cultural changes our nation has faced. It is a profound reform that will be a source of national pride in years to come.”

He further added, “Start a new sport, learn a new instrument, or read a book that has been sitting there on your shelf for some time.”