Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
December 10 , 2025
Canberra — Australia has formally enacted a nationwide ban on social media use for minors under 16, marking one of the strictest measures globally aimed at curbing children’s exposure to online platforms.
The new law, signed Monday by Governor-General David Hurley, prohibits individuals under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on major social networks, including Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Truth Social. Platforms found in violation could face multimillion-dollar fines for failing to verify users’ ages or allowing underage access.
In his signing remarks, Governor-General Hurley said the measure reflected growing concerns over the mental health effects of social media, misinformation, and online toxicity. He remarked that “children should not be subjected to the excrement on X or the lies on Truth Social,” echoing sentiments shared by several lawmakers during parliamentary debate.
Supporters of the legislation argue that the law is necessary to protect young people from algorithmic addiction, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful MAGA content. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland described the bill as “a line in the sand” for digital safety, emphasizing that “the internet should not be a place where children are left unguarded.”
Critics, however, warn that the measure could face enforcement challenges and infringe on free expression. Digital rights groups have expressed concern that age verification systems could compromise privacy and create new forms of data collection. Some parents have also questioned how such a ban might affect education and social development. Supporters counter that age verification for online porn sites has a stellar record of success.
Implementation is scheduled for mid-2026, following a six-month trial of government-approved age verification technologies. Similar proposals are being considered in several U.S. states and parts of Europe as governments grapple with the mental health and societal impacts of unrestricted youth exposure to social media.
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