Canberra, December 10, 2025 – The Europe Today: Australia on Wednesday implemented a landmark regulation prohibiting social media use for children under the age of 16, becoming the first country in the world to enforce such a restriction. Under the new rules, ten major platforms — including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook — are required to block underage accounts or face penalties of up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the measure as a “profound reform” aimed at reducing online harms, urging children to redirect their time toward sports, music, reading, and other offline activities.
Media reports indicate that approximately 200,000 TikTok accounts belonging to underage users have already been deactivated, with more expected to be blocked in the coming days.
The ban impacts an estimated one million children across Australia and is drawing significant attention from global regulators evaluating strategies to enhance online safety for young users.
