A new Australian law on Wednesday has denied children access to their social media accounts, as the country becomes the first in the world to impose a blanket ban on major platforms for users under 16. The unprecedented move, targeting 10 of the world's biggest platforms, from Instagram and TikTok to YouTube and Reddit, is being watched closely by governments considering similar action.
The law aims to shield minors from addictive algorithms, online predators, and digital bullying. According to CNN, most affected companies say they will comply through age verification technology to detect and suspend underage accounts, though some argue the new rules may not actually enhance children's safety.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists the reform is already shaping family conversations about online behaviour. “We have said very clearly that this will not be perfect, but it is the right thing to do for society to express its views, its judgment, about what is appropriate,” he told ABC.
Platforms must prove they’ve taken “reasonable steps” to deactivate accounts held by under-16s and block new ones from being created, or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars. Companies have begun rolling out the changes at varying speeds: Meta started removing Instagram, Facebook, and Threads accounts for under-16s on December 4, allowing users to download content that will be stored until they turn 16.
Snapchat plans three-year suspensions or until the child reaches 16, while YouTube will sign out all underage users on December 10 and hide their channels and uploads. TikTok will also deactivate underage accounts on December 10, saying: "It does not matter which email was used or whose name is on the account," and urging parents to report accounts created with false ages.
Twitch will block new underage sign-ups on December 10 but won't deactivate existing accounts until January 9, offering no explanation for the delay. A separate list of platforms, including Discord, WhatsApp, Roblox, and YouTube Kids, remains unaffected for now.
Authorities say the goal isn't merely reducing screen time but testing whether cutting teenagers off from social media improves their well-being. eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said officials will monitor indicators from sleep and reading habits to sports participation and antidepressant use. "We will be looking at everything from are kids sleeping more, are they interacting more?" she said.
The ban, a year in the making, has split public opinion. Supporters argue it protects children from excessive online pressures, bullying and predatory behaviour. Critics warn it may drive young people into more unregulated online spaces and question the reliability of age-verification systems.
With no penalties for families who ignore it, the policy’s real-world impact remains uncertain. But as millions of under-16s lose access to social platforms—Breanna among them, Australia’s experiment begins, sparking debate over whether young people are being safeguarded or cut off from vital digital communities.
