Australia enacted the global first prohibition on social media for users under 16, with similar restrictions gaining political momentum worldwide.
The Australian Ban
Australia implemented the world’s first ban on social media usage for individuals under 16 years old, effective December 2025. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the goal is to encourage Australian youth to spend more time outdoors, engage in sports, and have normal peer interactions rather than being online.
The decision was passed by the Australian parliament in 2024 but garnered international attention only after it took effect.
Global Response
In recent weeks, similar initiatives have emerged from French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babis, and Polish Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka.
The sudden political surge around age restrictions for social media has a simple explanation: such proposals enjoy enormous popularity among voters, with support ranging from approximately 55% to nearly 90% of adults across Europe. Similar high approval (around 80%) was observed in Australia through polling.
Opposition Concerns
The ban has not been universally supported. Australia’s government privacy commissioner, the national human rights commission, and a group of 140 Australian and international scientists opposed the measure, sending an open letter to Prime Minister Albanese expressing their concerns.
Unanswered Questions
The article raises critical questions about social media’s impact on teenagers’ mental health, the dangers of focusing regulatory efforts solely on age limits, and the enforceability of such restrictions. These concerns are being examined in the current debate surrounding legal age limits for social media platforms.
