Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the move as “a proud day to be prime minister of Australia,” saying the legislation is designed to protect young people from harmful content and online predators. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from opening accounts or face substantial fines.
Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, Threads, Twitch and Kick are among the platforms required to comply, though the list may expand. The measure is being closely watched by governments worldwide as a potential model for future regulation.
By nearly 20:00 in Sydney (09:00 GMT in London), Australian teens were nearing the end of their first day under the ban but many admitted they still found ways around it.
One 13-year-old said she bypassed verification by uploading a photo of her mother. Others said they simply used older siblings’ details.
Teen reactions varied widely. Some said they felt “insulted” and unfairly restricted, while others shrugged it off, saying they would “quickly get over it.”
Australia has entered uncharted territory after its world-first ban on social media accounts for children under 16 came into force at midnight, forcing millions of teens offline and triggering sharp debate about digital safety, enforcement, and children’s rights.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the move as “a proud day to be prime minister of Australia,” saying the legislation is designed to protect young people from harmful content and online predators. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from opening accounts or face substantial fines.
Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, Threads, Twitch, and Kick are among the platforms required to comply, though the list may expand. The measure is being closely watched by governments worldwide as a potential model for future regulation.
By nearly 20:00 in Sydney (09:00 GMT in London), Australian teens were nearing the end of their first day under the ban, but many admitted they still found ways around it.
One 13-year-old said she bypassed verification by uploading a photo of her mother. Others said they simply used older siblings’ details.
Teen reactions varied widely. Some said they felt “insulted” and unfairly restricted, while others shrugged it off, saying they would “quickly get over it.”
Supporters argue the ban shields children from relentless online pressure, cyberbullying and exposure to predators. The policy has been in development for over a year, driven by fears that excessive screen time is damaging young people’s mental health.
But critics say the rule may isolate vulnerable teens who depend on online communities for connection and support. Many tech firms also warn the ban could push children toward less regulated, more dangerous platforms, and question whether age-verification technology can realistically be enforced.
Australia’s experiment is now underway, but even government officials admit they do not yet have a clear metric for judging success.
The legislation is already being studied by several countries considering their own youth-focused social media restrictions, making Australia the first real-world test case in a broader global debate over children, technology and public safety.
For now, the argument over whether the ban protects young people or exposes them to new risks is far from settled.
