What Is Australia’s Social Media Ban For Children? PM Albanese Says… | World News

Australia’s historic move to ban social media for under-16s will come into force on Wednesday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also stated that he is confident in the newly introduced ban and that it will enable children to experience childhood.

IANS reported that Albanese wrote to the leaders of Australia’s states and territories on Tuesday to thank them for their support for the social media ban and acknowledged that the reform would require some adjustments in the short term.

Reportedly, “This is the cultural shift Australia needs to give parents greater peace of mind and ensure Australian children have a childhood.”

What is Australia’s Social Media Ban on Children Under 16?

Under laws passed by the federal parliament in November 2024, some social media platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent children under 16 from having accounts.

So far, 10 social media platforms have been instructed to enforce the ban; these include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit.

It is noteworthy that neither children nor their parents will be punished for violating the ban within the scope of the ban, and the responsibility for implementing the ban will be placed entirely on social media platforms.

According to the government, the ban is intended to reduce the negative impact of social media’s “design features that encourage young people to spend more time in front of screens, while also presenting content that may harm their health and well-being”.

A study commissioned in early 2025 found that 96 percent of children aged 10-15 used social media and seven in 10 children were exposed to harmful content.

This included misogynistic and violent material, as well as content promoting eating disorders and suicide.

(With inputs from IANS)