Australia has become the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide ban preventing children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms.
From Wednesday, major platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat will be required to block accounts belonging to users aged 15 and under. In total, ten major tech companies fall under the new regulation.
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, equivalent to around ₹275 crore.
The Australian government argues the move is necessary to protect children’s mental health. Officials say increasing exposure to social media is linked to anxiety, depression, body image concerns, and even suicidal thoughts among young people.
To enforce the age limit, platforms are expected to verify users through methods such as selfie-based identification, behavioural tracking or official ID.
According to government data, more than one million children aged between 8 and 15 in Australia currently use social media — around 86% of that age group. Their accounts will now be restricted or removed under the new rules.
Several countries including the UK, Denmark, Malaysia and some US states are reportedly considering similar legislation.
As part of the policy rollout, Australia has appointed researchers from Stanford University to study the effects of the ban. The two-year study will examine whether limiting social media improves the mental wellbeing of children.