Australia Bans Social Media for Under-16s Amid Teens Saying Goodbye Online

Canberra – In a landmark move set to reshape global internet regulation, Australia on Wednesday became the first country to legally prohibit children under 16 from using social media. Major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and X, are now required to block millions of underage users or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million).

The restriction took effect at midnight, marking what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described as “one of the biggest social and cultural changes our nation has faced.” Albanese hailed the law as a critical measure to protect children’s mental health, calling it “a proud day for families.”

TikTok reported disabling 200,000 accounts within hours, with “hundreds of thousands more” expected to be locked this week. Across social media feeds, Australian teens shared farewell posts and digital messages marking their final hours online.

“No more social media… no more contact with the rest of the world,” one teen wrote, while another posted, “#seeyouwhenim16.”

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Elon Musk’s X, the last of the major platforms to comply, confirmed it is “automatically offboarding” users who fail age verification, emphasizing that the move is mandatory under Australian law.

All 10 companies affected are required to implement invasive age-estimation methods, including behavioural analysis, facial-image verification, and possible ID uploads—a step critics warn borders on state surveillance.

Silicon Valley lobbyists have decried the legislation as “state overreach,” but Canberra maintains the law addresses longstanding concerns that platforms ignored warnings about children’s online safety.