Children under 16 barred from TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat apps and more as Labor’s world-first legislation takes effect

Good morning, welcome to our live broadcast about the world’s first social media ban.

For the anxious generation and the tech giants tasked with reluctantly kicking them off their platforms, D-Day was born. Starting today, children under the age of 16 will no longer be able to use popular social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit and X.

Tech giants were required to take “reasonable steps” to prevent children from having accounts on their platforms by December 10 or risk fines of up to $49.5 million.

The world-leading policy launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells at the United Nations in New York in September is not without controversy, of course.

Teens are divided, not all parents follow this, and social media providers are pretty consistent in their feelings on the issue. So: they’re not happy at all, and while Reddit has said it will comply, it’s expected to challenge the ban in court.

But as Wells says, “any short-term inconvenience will be worth the long-term benefits.”

Stay with us as we bring you ongoing news updates as developments regarding the enforcement of Australia’s social media ban unfold and the world watches.