With Australia’s historic restrictions on social media coming into effect in just two days, global policymakers are keeping a close eye on Australia.
As of December 10, users such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and others must take “appropriate measures” to prevent minors under the age of 16 from using their platforms. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to A$49.5 million (about $32 million).
Britain can do it again ‘if it succeeds’
The government said it wanted to make the UK “the safest place in the world to be online” when it passed the Online Safety Act 2023, and banning under-16s from accessing social media platforms could be the next natural progression.
In conversation with PolitiekHomeJoani Reid, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Children’s Online Safety, welcomed Australia’s upcoming rules and said the UK could try to emulate them “if they are successful and well enforced”.
“We will all be looking closely at this… Good for Australia, above all it sends a very clear message that social media is not suitable for children,” he said, echoing similar sentiments previously expressed by other MPs.
Currently one American diet per state
About half of all US states now have some form of age verification after Missouri imposed restrictions on adult websites in late November. And federal legislation may soon follow, with Congress considering a number of proposals, including controversial rules on age verification in the App Store.
Currently, the most important federal protection remains the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prevents companies from collecting data from users under the age of 13 without parental consent.
Several states have passed stricter social media laws, including Mississippi, where Bluesky withdrew from the market rather than comply. The stream supports this Meta concealed potential harm to children Calls for reform are likely to increase and the new Australian law is expected to serve as an important reference point in future debates.
The EU is already considering a ban similar to the one in Australia
The EU has gone beyond simply enforcing Australia’s ban; lays the foundation for itself. On 26 November 2025, the European Parliament voted to ban children under 16 from social media platforms (483 votes to 92).
Led by Danish Social Democrat Christel Schaldemose, the resolution calls on the European Commission to tackle Europe’s “fragmented approach to pensions” by introducing uniform verification standards across the bloc.
At the national level, France, Spain, Germany and Denmark are already considering new rules on children’s use of social media apps, although most of these proposals still rely heavily on parental consent rather than a strict ban.
Malaysia wants to ban the entry of children under the age of 16 by 2026
Finally, Malaysia has confirmed plans to ban social media users under the age of 16 from 2026, according to recent reports from Al Jazeera.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has confirmed the government is reviewing the verification systems used by Australia and other countries, with the aim of having a regulatory framework in place “by next year”.
Although this particular ban is still in its early stages, it is in line with the country’s ongoing commitment to combating the harms of social media. The platforms have already collided greater regulation and services with more than 8 million users must now have a valid operating license.
What happens next?
While it is still too early to tell whether banning social media for under 16s in Australia is the right approach, the legislation has certainly caught the attention of global politicians and is likely to trigger a wave of new laws around the world.
According to the government, this is exactly what was expected. “When Australia, a middle power, takes on these global giants … it helps to have others on our side.” Prime Minister Antonio Albanese he said, defending his decision to approve a $100,000 trip to New York for Secretary Anika Wells. The purpose of the delegation was to bring Australia’s ban on social media directly to world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
But industry experts remain divided on the potential consequences of permanently banning children from social media apps. Meanwhile, privacy advocates have repeatedly expressed concern about the increased collection of data needed for pension protection.
These tensions between politicians and global privacy advocates are expected to continue as Australia and other countries introduce similar bans. It is currently unclear whether such measures can be implemented with respect for privacy, or whether they will spread globally despite these concerns.
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