Australia’s world-first ban on social media for users under age 16 took effect Monday, aiming to protect children and younger teens from addictive platforms and harmful online content.
Social Media Ban Takes Effect in Australia
As of Dec. 10, platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Reddit, Threads, X (formerly Twitter) and Kick are required to deactivate or remove accounts belonging to users in the targeted age group and prevent new account creation. Some companies began this process last week.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government acknowledge the process won’t be perfect immediately, noting that approximately 86 per cent of Australian children between eight and 15 years old are already on social media.
“But the message this law sends will be 100 per cent clear,” Albanese said in a recent op-ed, comparing the ban to setting a national legal drinking age. “The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear, national standard.”
The ban coincides with the start of a six-week summer break for schools in the Southern Hemisphere. Some young Australians express concern that the measure will cut off vital connections to friends and community support, particularly for those in remote or marginalized communities.
“I don’t think the impact will be very positive for us. We don’t have a lot out here to get in contact with each other,” said 15-year-old Riley Allen, who lives on a sheep ranch outside of Wudinna, South Australia. “I’m not sure how we’re going to keep in touch over the holidays with each other.”
Users Find Ways Around the Ban
Some young users are already attempting to bypass the ban using filters or masks to disguise their faces, or by enlisting older users – including parents – to circumvent age verification processes. Online forums are sharing advice on using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to mask location, a tactic to avoid age-tracking methods.
Alternative platforms are also gaining traction, with Lemon8, owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and a photo-sharing app called Yope experiencing a surge in popularity.
The Australian government has warned that additional tech companies could be added to the list in the future. Platforms found in violation of the new law face fines of up to approximately $45.4 million Cdn, with enforcement handled by Australia’s eSafety Commission.
“This is not set and forget,” Communications Minister Anika Wells told the National Press Club last week. “If LinkedIn becomes a secret online meeting place for under 16s, I will not hesitate to act.”
Toronto-based tech journalist Takara Small suggests a multi-pronged approach to addressing the dangers of social media, beyond a simple ban, involving governments, educators, parents, and tech companies.
“Education is so critical because young people can just move to another social media platform. They may pivot to another space that perhaps doesn’t have the same processes for takedowns,” she said.
“With this Australia ban, there are young people who are setting up anonymous accounts. When we use facial recognition to determine someone’s age, it’s not always accurate. And so what are we doing … to teach young people why it’s important for them to understand how the internet works, how social media works, and to protect them?”
International Response
Australia’s ban is being viewed as the strongest measure yet to limit young users’ access to social media, with other countries considering similar steps. Malaysia, Denmark, and France are either enacting or pledging similar bans, while the U.K. is legislating tougher standards for social platforms.
Canada’s Online Harms Act, Bill C-63, died when a federal election was called earlier this year. However, the justice ministry plans to introduce new legislation before the end of the year targeting online exploitation of children, with the heritage ministry indicating further action is forthcoming.
“We all want our children to be safe as they navigate the digital world, and platforms have an important role to play,” a heritage spokesperson said in a statement. “Our government intends to act swiftly to better protect Canadians, and especially children, from online harm.”
Jenny Perez, founder of Unplugged Canada, a parental advocacy group, expressed hope that Canada would follow Australia’s lead. “Definitely we should follow the lead of Australia and also of other countries across the world [where] governments are stepping up to protect their children better,” she said. “Many parents felt defeated…. They felt it was too late to change the norm, but what Australia is proving is not only that it can be done, but also that it can be implemented effectively because we are already seeing social media companies complying.”
Quentyn Archer, a high school student in Montreal, believes a complete ban in Canada would be “excessive,” but acknowledges the potential benefits of restricting social media access for younger users. “Kids these days, they’re on screens a lot … and I feel like it’s not really good for them,” he said. “They could definitely limit the amount of hours that people can use social media. I think that would be good for younger people.”
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