12/09/2025

 

Samuel Clifford

 

Australia has introduced a landmark social media ban that has quickly become one of the most divisive laws in the country of recent memory. Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2025 will come  into force on December 10, 2025. More than one million accounts belonging to users under the age of 16 are being deactivated as the legislation takes effect, marking the first time a country has imposed such sweeping restrictions on young people’s access to online platforms. The law requires ten of the largest platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and YouTube, to take “reasonable steps” to ensure people under 16 cannot set up accounts and that existing accounts are removed. Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million).

 

Lawmakers approved the ban late last year, citing a variety of evidence that social media can be disastrous for children’s mental health. Officials argue that addictive platforms contribute to anxiety, depression, body image issues, and even suicidal thoughts among teenagers. The move comes after years of whistleblower testimony and leaked internal documents from Meta showing the company knew its products harmed teens while publicly denying the link. Governments from various countries are watching closely, considering similar measures as frustration grows over what critics describe as the tech industry’s failure to implement effective harm-minimization strategies.

 

The rollout has sparked a culture war in Australia. Many parents and child advocates have welcomed the ban, praising it as a necessary step to protect children from harmful online environments. They believe it will reduce risks of cyberbullying, grooming, and addictive scrolling habits. Yet others, including young people themselves, argue the law is excessive and strips them of vital communication channels. Riley Allen, a 15-year-old living on an Outback sheep ranch, worries about losing touch with friends who live dozens of kilometers away, especially during the long summer holidays. For children in rural and isolated communities, social media has often been the only way to stay connected.

 

The ban has also triggered a constitutional challenge. Two 15-year-olds, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, supported by the Digital Freedom Project, have filed a case in the High Court of Australia. They argue the law “robs” young Australians of their freedom of political communication, an implied right in the constitution, and prevents them from expressing their views online. Australia does not have an explicit right to free speech, but critics say the legislation is “grossly excessive.” Technology companies and free speech advocates have joined in opposition, warning that enforcement will be difficult and that age verification measures could lead to intrusive surveillance.

 

Globally, the ban coincides with a wave of lawsuits against social media firms. In January, a landmark trial will begin in the United States, consolidating hundreds of claims from parents and school districts alleging that Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube designed their apps to be addictive and knowingly concealed the harm they cause. Executives including Mark Zuckerberg and Evan Spiegel have been ordered to testify, while former Meta employees Frances Haugen, Sarah Wynn-Williams, and Arturo Béjar have already given evidence before Congress about systemic failures to protect teens.

 

Australia’s ban is both a bold experiment and a live test case for how governments might regulate technology that has become inseparable from modern life. It has been praised as a decisive step toward protecting children, but it has also been condemned as an overreach that risks isolating vulnerable youth and undermining free expression. Whether the law succeeds or fails, its impact will resonate far beyond Australia, shaping the global debate over how societies balance child safety with digital freedom.

 

Sources:

 

1. Mashable. “Australia’s Banning Social Media for Kids.” Mashable, 9 Dec. 2025, https://mashable.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-instagram-facebook-tiktok-response.

 

2. U.S. News & World Report. “Australia Social Media Ban Takes Effect in World First.” U.S. News, 9 Dec. 2025, https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-12-09/australia-social-media-ban-takes-effect-in-world-first.

 

3. NBC News. “Australia Launches Youth Social Media Ban.” NBC News, 9 Dec. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/australia-launches-youth-social-media-ban-rcna246730.

 

4. The Daily Signal. “Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children Takes Effect.” The Daily Signal, 9 Dec. 2025, https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/12/09/australias-social-media-ban-for-children-takes-effect/.

 

5. ABC News. “Australia’s Social Media Ban Leaves a 15-Year-Old Worried.” ABC News, 10 Dec. 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/australias-social-media-ban-leaves-15-year-worried-128233949.