Australia has become the first country to impose a blanket ban on social media access for children under 16, with enforcement set to begin on December 10, 2025. Major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook will be required to block accounts for minors in the age group, while companies face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($34.9 million) for non-compliance.
The move is part of a broader global trend as governments introduce age restrictions, verification systems and penalties to limit minors' exposure to social media. In the United States, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion over the next decade to resolve claims that Facebook and Instagram are designed to addict young users, a settlement announced on Wednesday.
In Europe, several countries are advancing legislation. Britain plans to approve a ban on social media for under-16s by Christmas, with implementation targeted for Spring 2027, according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The government also intends to require tech firms like Apple and Google to implement technical solutions to block the circulation of nude images among children, subject to age verification for adult users.
The European Union is preparing stronger protections under a planned Digital Fairness Act, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing on May 12 that the proposal will target addictive and harmful design practices in online platforms. The European Parliament has also called for an EU-wide ban preventing children under 16 from accessing online platforms without parental consent, and an outright ban for those under 13.
Across Asia, Malaysia began barring minors under 16 from registering social media accounts on June 1, while India’s chief economic adviser has advocated for age restrictions, citing concerns over predatory design. In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates approved a resolution on June 18 setting the minimum age for social media use at 15, becoming the first Arab country to do so.
Other jurisdictions are adopting varied approaches. Denmark plans to ban social media for children under 15 but will allow parental access for those aged 13 and above. Greece is nearing an announcement of a similar ban for under-15s, while Poland is preparing legislation to hold platforms responsible for age verification and impose a ban for under-15s. Sweden’s government-appointed commission has recommended introducing a minimum age of 15 for social media use.
In contrast, France’s top court blocked a bill in August that would have banned social media access for under-15s, citing freedom of expression concerns. Germany currently permits minors aged 13 to 16 to use social media only with parental consent, while Italy requires parental consent for children under 14.
New Zealand has proposed a ban on children under 16 using social media, with fines of up to 10% of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance. The government is exploring verification methods including facial recognition and digital identity documents.
China has implemented a "minor mode" program that imposes device-level and app-specific restrictions to limit screen time based on age. Turkey’s parliament passed legislation in April banning social media use for children under 15 and introducing additional rules for digital platforms and gaming software companies.
