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1h ago

Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Starts Wednesday as Platforms Move to Comply

New polling shows broad support for the crackdown alongside skepticism about companies’ ability to keep younger teens off their apps.

Annie Wang, 14, and Ayris Tolson, 15, use their mobile phones, ahead of Australia’s social media ban for users under 16, which is scheduled to take effect on December 10, in Sydney, Australia, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
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(Image: Private Media)

Overview

  • The law requires 10 services — TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, X, Reddit, Threads, Twitch and Kick — to block under-16s or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
  • Meta has begun deactivating accounts it believes belong to children, and TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch and Kick say they will comply.
  • A Resolve Political Monitor survey found 67% support for the ban, 35% confidence in effective enforcement, and only 29% of parents planning to fully delete apps from their children’s phones.
  • A High Court challenge has been filed with a hearing delayed to February, as mental-health services warn of holiday isolation and Kids Helpline adds 16 counselors to prepare.
  • Europe is assessing Australia’s model as the EU considers age checks, curbs on addictive features and an app-based verification tool, while many teens expect to use workarounds or shift to exempt messaging platforms like Discord and WhatsApp.