As of December 10, 2025, Australia became the first nation to implement a comprehensive age restriction policy aimed at keeping teenagers off social media. The law, known as the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from using any social media platform, including TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. Social media companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to enforce the ban face fines of up to $49.5 million.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior officials say the policy is designed to shield children from the harms associated with compulsive social media use, such as bullying, poor body image, and addictive design features. However, the rollout of the social media age ban has already sparked a wide range of reactions. Not only are teenagers bragging that they’ve found ways to work around the ban, but experts believe that the ban might push underage users to less-regulated corners of the internet.

This new form of digital regulation has the potential to change how teens and adolescents around the globe interact with one another. Whether you’re a teen who relies on social media for contact with friends and family, or a parent who is concerned about your teen’s online safety, following the developments around Australia’s social media law is important.

How the Ban Works

Under the new law, the onus for enforcing the ban is placed on social media platforms. Companies must have “reasonable measures” in place that prohibit anyone under the age of 16 from having accounts. However, the legislation doesn’t require social media companies to completely block all access to sites. Instead, it focuses on preventing the creation or maintenance of accounts by minors, a distinction that critics say limits the law’s effectiveness.

There’s another potential gap in the protective barrier that Australia is trying to build with this ban. According to industry observers, the ban does not prohibit people under the age of 16 from viewing social media without an account, only from having an account. This means that the impact may not be as far-reaching as the Prime Minister had hoped, since many platforms allow logged-out browsing of content, which raises concerns that younger users may still be exposed to harmful material.

Platforms have already implemented a few different tools to determine user age. Age inference, which estimates age based on user behavior and account history, is one option. Other options include ID verification and facial recognition. However, all three of those options come with some potential issues. For instance, if a 15-year-old has spent most of his or her time looking at content that is generally consumed by older users, the algorithm may miss them. There are also issues with users who are of age but don’t have a valid ID. Finally, facial recognition still struggles to accurately determine age, especially among younger users who don’t have features that are clearly defined.

Teen Reactions and Workarounds

Even though the ban went into effect on December 10, 2025, December 11 saw many teens boasting that they were still actively using their social media accounts, posting comments about how they had managed to slip through the regulatory mechanisms. Prime Minister Albanese publicly warned that such behavior could inadvertently flag their accounts for removal and reiterated that the rollout would take time to fully deactivate under-16 profiles.

Online chatter has been in overdrive since the ban went into effect, with many posts indicating that Australian teens are discussing a range of options, including using a VPN to mask location and relying on older siblings or parents for login information. Searches for VPN services spiked in the days before the ban took effect, though data suggests increased interest hasn’t necessarily translated into widespread download surges.

On a global scale, there’s plenty of skepticism. Surveys and informal reports from other countries considering similar bans show teens view social media as integral to identity formation and social life, with many predicting they’ll find technical workarounds or migrate to alternative digital spaces to maintain connections.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Ultimately, even though the law is now in place, social media platforms face the difficult task of figuring out how to accurately determine the age of a user without committing any breaches of privacy. The lack of a standardized verification system means different platforms may adopt a patchwork of age checks, leading to uneven enforcement outcomes.

Privacy advocates also caution that overly aggressive age verification could require sensitive personal data, creating new risks for user privacy and data security. According to some privacy advocates, teen online safety could actually suffer if the processes extend too far into their personal lives.

The eSafety Commissioner of Australia is monitoring the rollout and effectiveness of the ban, while also keeping a watchful eye on circumvention. The effectiveness of Australia’s social media law will likely shape how similar policies are implemented around the globe.

What It Means for the Future

Australia is the first nation to put an age-related ban on social media into place, but it’s certainly not the first country to implement some sort of regulation. Denmark already has parental consent requirements for underage users, a law that it’s looking to expand. Meanwhile, France, Germany, and Italy are considering implementing laws like Denmark already has. The United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Norway are currently debating passing laws that would mirror those in Australia.

Are age-restriction laws coming to the United States? While no official statements have been made, it’s safe to assume that if there are positive results from other nations, these laws could come stateside sooner than later.

Looking for stories that inform and engage? From breaking headlines to fresh perspectives, WaveNewsToday has more to explore. Ride the wave of what’s next.