‘Protecting kids. Backing parents’: Australian PM announces under-16 social media ban; Should India do the same?

Australia becomes the world’s first country to prohibit social media usage for children under 16.

“We're proud Australia's the first country in the world to make it happen,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced.

The rule was officially enforced on December 9, compelling globally dominant social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, to prevent young users from accessing their services.

"Protecting kids. Backing parents," the Australian PM said. "Australian families are taking back power from the big tech companies, and they are asserting the right of kids to be kids," he added.

To date, several countries have explored age-based systems, while others rely on parental approvals, national firewalls or broad censorship. Still others are considering stricter app-store obligations or device-level controls.

The motivation behind Australia’s firm policy stems from years of discussion about how digital ecosystems influence young minds.

Today, we have officially banned social media accounts for under 16s. pic.twitter.com/9Ap5mZfNoq

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 9, 2025

Protecting kids. Backing parents.

Our social media ban for under-16s starts today. pic.twitter.com/4THxm0NdXV

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 9, 2025

Social media restrictions in different countries

In the UK, the Online Safety Act compels platforms to prevent minors from browsing harmful material and mandates new safety standards. 

The law, however, does not specify a minimum age for accessing social networks.

France passed a law in 2023 that minors below 15 require parental permission to create digital accounts.

Meanwhile, China has implemented a heavily restricted internet environment over the past two decades through its “Great Firewall,” which blocks major international social networks altogether.

Additionally, the Chinese have built a “minor mode,” which includes device-level settings and app rules limiting screen time for young users across various age brackets.

The United States regulates digital child safety at the federal level through the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

COPPA prohibits any online platform from gathering personal data from children under 13 without verifiable parental approval. However, COPPA does not regulate access to platforms, prompting individual states to take their own actions.

What's India thinking?

Australia’s decision could turn out to be an eye-opener for several countries, including India.

However, the Indian experts are divided, with many emphasising systemic and behavioural issues rather than legal ones.

Dr Monica Sudhir, a counselling psychologist for adolescents, described the severity of cases she encounters because of social media addiction.

“I have seen really young children become extremely hyperactive and addicted in my clinic — kids who are not able to leave their phones or have huge, violent anger tantrums if the devices are taken away,” she told TOI, stressing that any purely legislative solution will address only part of the bigger problem.

Also read: Google-backed Namma Yatri becomes tech service provider for Indian Govt’s ride-hailing platform, Bharat Taxi’s zero-commission initiative (startuppedia.in)