Multiple nations are enacting or drafting legislation to prohibit children and teenagers from accessing major social media platforms, with Australia leading the global charge in December 2025. The measures, aimed at users under 16 or 15, target platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to combat cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to harmful content. Critics, including human rights groups, argue the bans are ineffective and raise significant privacy concerns regarding age verification.
The Australian government became the first to implement a comprehensive ban, blocking children under 16 from services including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. Companies face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $34.4 million USD) for non-compliance and must use robust age verification methods beyond simple self-declaration.
European Nations Follow Suit
In Europe, Denmark has secured parliamentary support to ban social media for those under 15, with legislation expected by mid-2026. France has passed a bill with similar restrictions for under-15s, pending Senate approval, while Germany's governing coalition debates a proposal for under-16s. Slovenia and Spain have also announced plans to ban access for children under 15 and 16, respectively, with Spain additionally seeking to hold social media executives personally accountable for hate speech.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a ban for under-15s starting January 2027, specifically citing rising anxiety, sleep problems, and the addictive design of platforms as justification.
Global Legislative Momentum
The trend extends to Asia, where Indonesia has banned under-16s from platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Roblox, and Malaysia plans to implement a similar ban for under-16s this year. The United Kingdom is consulting on a potential ban for under-16s and considering measures to compel platforms to limit features like endless scrolling that drive compulsive use.
Despite the legislative push, organisations like Amnesty Tech criticise the approach, stating it ignores the realities of younger generations and could be circumvented. The core challenge remains implementing age verification that is both effective and privacy-respecting, a hurdle all proposing nations must address.