Australia has passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, a landmark law banning children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. Set to take effect from December 10, 2025, the law makes it mandatory for social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent minors from accessing their services, with penalties reaching up to A$50 million for non-compliance.

The initiative received global attention at the United Nations General Assembly, where international leaders praised Australia’s bold stance. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as “plain common sense,” while leaders from Greece and Malta also voiced support, noting the urgent need to safeguard children’s mental health in the digital age. Advocates argue that giving young people three extra years free from algorithm-driven influence will help them grow through real-life experiences instead of curated online content.

Supporters highlight that the law could become a model for other countries, positioning Australia as a leader in child digital protection. They emphasize potential benefits such as reduced exposure to cyberbullying, harmful body image content, misinformation, and addictive online behaviors.

However, critics remain cautious. Concerns include the risk of children migrating to unregulated or underground platforms, privacy issues tied to age verification systems, and questions about freedom of expression. Groups like UNICEF Australia stress that while the ban is a powerful tool, it should be paired with complementary measures such as digital literacy education, stronger platform accountability, and mental health resources.

As the world watches closely, Australia’s experiment will test whether sweeping restrictions can meaningfully improve online safety for teens — or whether a more balanced mix of education, parental guidance, and safer tech design is the better path forward.