Australia’s groundbreaking social media law, which took effect on Dec. 10, 2025, raised the minimum age for opening or maintaining social media accounts to 16, marking a global first. The legislation requires major platforms to verify users’ ages and enforce the restriction, moving beyond simple self-reporting of birthdates. Six months into implementation, the policy is drawing intense international scrutiny, with early data suggesting meaningful progress despite some critics declaring it a failure.
Under the law, 10 major platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and YouTube—removed 4.7 million accounts belonging to an estimated 2.5 million Australian children aged 8 to 15. While many children may have held multiple accounts, the immediate enforcement demonstrated the law’s capacity to compel large-scale action from tech companies. Early studies indicate that social media use and account ownership among under-16s declined between 9% and 40%, depending on the measurement method.
The variation in results stems from how different studies define social media access. The law targets account-based access, which is the vehicle for many of the most harmful features for children, such as late-night notifications, interactions with strangers, and algorithmic content designed to maximize engagement. Platforms like Snapchat, which require an account to view content, saw a roughly 40% drop in monthly usage among 13- to 15-year-olds, according to data from parental control company Qustodio. In contrast, YouTube, which allows content viewing without an account, experienced only a 3% decline in the same age group.
Parental feedback has been largely positive. A YouGov survey conducted one month after the law took effect found that three in five Australians considered the ban effective. Among parents of children 16 and under, 61% reported at least two positive behavioral changes, including more in-person social interaction (43%), children being more present and engaged (38%), and improvements in their relationship with their child (38%). These findings underscore broad public support for the policy, which remains high globally and is driving political momentum in other countries.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has framed the law as the beginning of a long-term cultural shift rather than a one-time fix. Enforcement and compliance are expected to improve over time as platforms refine age-verification technologies and regulators tighten oversight. The law does not eliminate children’s access to social media content entirely, as it was never designed to do so. Instead, it focuses on preventing the contractual and data-sharing mechanisms that enable the most harmful platform features.
The international response has been swift. More than a dozen countries, including Indonesia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, are exploring or implementing similar age restrictions. These nations are building on Australia’s pioneering approach, adapting the model to their own legal and cultural contexts. The spread of such laws reflects a growing consensus that social media platforms must take greater responsibility for protecting minors.
Critics argue that the law has only partially reduced under-16 social media use and that children can still find workarounds, such as using accounts belonging to older siblings or accessing content without logging in. However, supporters counter that the policy was never intended to be a perfect solution but rather a foundational step toward safer online environments for children. The decline in account ownership and usage, combined with reported improvements in family dynamics, suggests the law is achieving its core objectives.
As more countries follow Australia’s lead, the global debate over social media regulation is intensifying. The Australian experience offers valuable lessons in balancing enforcement with practicality, and in setting expectations for gradual, measurable progress rather than instant transformation. The coming years will likely see further refinements to age-verification methods and broader international coordination on digital safety standards for minors.