Australia has passed into law a social media ban for people under age 16. Starting in late 2025, platforms must demonstrate that they are taking ‘reasonable steps’ to keep out users under 16, or face fines.
Australia on Thursday passed into law a social media ban for those under 16 years old, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.
From late 2025, platforms including Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Elon Musk’s X, TikTok and Snapchat must show Australians they are taking “reasonable steps” to keep out users under 16, or face fines up to the equivalent of $44 million Cdn.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp, child-specific versions like YouTube Kids and those used for education delivery, such as Google Classroom, could get carveouts from the ban, government officials have said.
The Social Media Minimum Age bill sets Australia up as a test …