Australia has implemented a groundbreaking ban preventing users under 16 from using major social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, among others. This move has caused millions of children and teenagers to lose access to their accounts as platforms begin removing underage users. Non-compliant platforms face fines up to $49.5 million.

 

Despite some initial challenges with implementation, such as underage users bypassing facial age assurance tests, platforms have begun complying with the new regulations. While most companies are on board, X has yet to confirm its compliance policy. An alternative platform, Bluesky, has also adopted the ban despite being assessed as low risk due to its small user base.

 

Opinions among parents are mixed, with some expressing distress over their children's social exclusion and others welcoming the ban as a means to limit excessive social media use. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the law's clarity compensates for any implementation imperfections. Polls suggest two-thirds of voters support the age increase, though some opposition voices have raised concerns.

 

International interest in the ban is growing, with countries like Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway considering similar measures, and the European Union adopting a resolution to explore restrictions. The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, plans to monitor the ban’s implementation closely.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

• Australia's ban targets social media access for users under 16, affecting millions.
• Mixed parental reactions range from concern over social exclusion to support for controlled access.
• Other nations and regions are contemplating similar measures following Australia's lead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from  The Guardian 2025-12-09

 

 

 

 

Atypical woke liberal left wing hypocrites.  They ban kids from social media because it is bad for them, but they encourage and support kids get transition medical procedures - even if their Parents do not approve.  We all know this will not work because the kids will lie when setting up their new accounts - the delusional stupidity of socialist woke liberals is unending. 

 

BUT perhaps they are being clever - because the kids will just work around this khrapp, their next step will be to mandate ID checks for all social media accounts - and then for everything else too.  Those socialists just love to have total control over the people - because then they can never be removed from power - as per Venezuela and China and Nth Korea etc etc etc.  As the old saying goes - you can vote in Socialism, but if you leave them in power too long, you will never be allowed to vote them out. 

 

This is an excellent way to educate children about the dangers of voting for vile left wing parties who seek only to control you and exert their authority over you.

 

At least (to my knowledge) Australia's vile left wing government isn't cancelling elections like the UK's vile left wing government. 

 

 

I suspect the $50 million fine for social media platforms has more to do with it than protecting children from online abuse. Anyway, kids are finding work arounds right at this moment. A VPN puts you anywhere in the world, also older siblings and friends will lend a hand in getting past blocks and setting up accounts. A dumb idea that will fail soon.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

This is an excellent way to educate children about the dangers of voting for vile left wing parties who seek only to control you and exert their authority over you.

 

At least (to my knowledge) Australia's vile left wing government isn't cancelling elections like the UK's vile left wing government. 

Or killing opposition candidates (11 to date) like the vile German left wing government

35 minutes ago, grain said:

I suspect the $50 million fine for social media platforms has more to do with it than protecting children from online abuse. Anyway, kids are finding work arounds right at this moment. A VPN puts you anywhere in the world, also older siblings and friends will lend a hand in getting past blocks and setting up accounts. A dumb idea that will fail soon.

 

Yeah kids are pretty tech savvy these days with VPN's etc.

 

It's not even illegal for parents to assist them setting up accounts with their own ID. Like you said, older siblings will help, I'd imagine over 16's will start selling accounts to these platforms to under 16's etc. It could produce a whole black market. 

 

I do also worry about isolating children who use these platforms to communicate due to mental health issues, autism etc. that makes it difficult for them having traditional forms of contact. 

 

It's a dumb idea that will indeed fail, but at least it will teach them the dangers of voting for left wing parties. Possibly (and hopefully) a lesson that they remember for the rest of their lives.

 

 

I’d bet money there’s a lot of tense households in Australia lol feel sorry for the parents lol!!😂 

2 minutes ago, Tug said:

I’d bet money there’s a lot of tense households in Australia lol feel sorry for the parents lol!!😂 

 

There is nothing to stop the parents providing access for the child. 

 

The whole idea is ill thought out, authoritarian and a massive violation of rights. Like most left wing policies in fact. 

And New Zealand is talking about doing the same.

Control, control.

On 12/10/2025 at 11:56 AM, BritManToo said:

Or killing opposition candidates (11 to date) like the vile German left wing government

 

I'll bite. Got any evidence to support that claim?

8 minutes ago, Deerculler said:

And New Zealand is talking about doing the same.

Control, control.

 

The end goal is clear.

 

All online activity will be linked to your digital ID, so that any wrongspeak can easily be punished with jail time. 

40 minutes ago, Tug said:

I’d bet money there’s a lot of tense households in Australia lol feel sorry for the parents lol!!😂 

Absolutely, can you imagine having a couple of teenagers, 14 or 15, pestering their parents, day in day out?

Some parents give their kids phones, just to shut them up, this might just backfire?

12 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Absolutely, can you imagine having a couple of teenagers, 14 or 15, pestering their parents, day in day out?

Some parents give their kids phones, just to shut them up, this might just backfire?

 

If they were OK with them having social media before, they can just set it up for them. 

 

I suspect millions will. People don't take kindly to the state trying to act as the parent of their children. 

How can this ever work? Scan kids ID cards before letting them online? I can see a fake ID business booming. What about deep fakes that are a reality? You can create a fake ID easily with the right tools.

Good. I consider social media to be the most destructive force in contemporary culture today. Children are growing up now in a world where they expect immediate response, gratification and notification. Their brains no longer have time to evolve; they must adapt to change in an instant, and the results are distressing. The difficulties of growing up have never been so public. Social technology provides a platform where things can run wild. Imagine the stress of high school – the competition for popularity, the pressure to fit in, the judgmental nature of social activities – at an accelerated pace.

 

We try to protect our children from wandering off into the darkness on their own, and it turns out they are doing exactly that – online. When they get older and “ready,” we send them off to college, where they face more pressures. But social media has an infamous dark side and the more people share, the more serious this side becomes. As it turns out, living your life online has serious consequences for your self-esteem, your relationships, and your career prospects. 

 

And it is a strong indication of just how bent, warped and misguided contemporary culture and society is, that someone can be considered an idol or celebrity just because they have alot of followers on Tik tok, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

On 12/10/2025 at 12:14 PM, JonnyF said:

 

Yeah kids are pretty tech savvy these days with VPN's etc.

 

It's not even illegal for parents to assist them setting up accounts with their own ID. Like you said, older siblings will help, I'd imagine over 16's will start selling accounts to these platforms to under 16's etc. It could produce a whole black market. 

 

I do also worry about isolating children who use these platforms to communicate due to mental health issues, autism etc. that makes it difficult for them having traditional forms of contact. 

 

It's a dumb idea that will indeed fail, but at least it will teach them the dangers of voting for left wing parties. Possibly (and hopefully) a lesson that they remember for the rest of their lives.

 

 

I watched an interview on TV a couple of weeks ago, it was a father who's young (under 16) daughter had comitted suicide due to online harrasment. And this particular father's story was being promoted as an example of what the Australian government was trying to prevent. Anyway, during the interview the father revealed his daughter had attempted suicide 12 times before finally getting it right, and all this was due to harmfull interactions on the social media. I just thought for Christ's sake man if your daughter had 13 goes at suicide then she had severe mental issues that have nothing to do with the internet. And if I had a young daughter who tried just once to top herself due to online harrasment, then I would make sure she did not have a laptop or a smart phone, and I wouldn't allow her anywhere near the damn internet.

Moronic law.

On 12/10/2025 at 10:50 AM, TroubleandGrumpy said:

their next step will be to mandate ID checks for all social media accounts - and then for everything else too. 

Exactly this.

34 minutes ago, grain said:

I watched an interview on TV a couple of weeks ago, it was a father who's young (under 16) daughter had comitted suicide due to online harrasment. And this particular father's story was being promoted as an example of what the Australian government was trying to prevent. Anyway, during the interview the father revealed his daughter had attempted suicide 12 times before finally getting it right, and all this was due to harmfull interactions on the social media. I just thought for Christ's sake man if your daughter had 13 goes at suicide then she had severe mental issues that have nothing to do with the internet. And if I had a young daughter who tried just once to top herself due to online harrasment, then I would make sure she did not have a laptop or a smart phone, and I wouldn't allow her anywhere near the damn internet.

 

Indeed.

 

I think a lot of parents blame the internet when in fact it is their own poor parenting skills to blame. 

 

There are many ways to control what kids get on their phones, we do not need the state to do it. It is the parents job. Of course, some will fail as parents in this regard but the solution is not to ban social media for all children when used correctly it can be a brilliant resource. 

 

This blanket response reminds me of the approach we see in third world countries when something goes wrong they simply stomp all over it. Like when a drunk guard raped the girl on the train in Thailand so they banned drinking on all trains for everyone. 

 

This is very much the thin end of the wedge for controlling everyone's online activity and they are using the "Think of the children" excuse like they always do. 

 

The end goal is digital ID's linked to all internet access so WrongSpeak can be punished. 

 

If you control the language, you control thought, and if you control thought, you control the people.

They were told to go out and do some sport, in an interview I saw some  teen  female skate boarders, complaining they rely on it for their Youtube channel and will lose their donations. Oz is on the way to fascism, 50 aud. for a packet of cigarettes, A class drugs are cheaper ! Mucking Fental.. init.

1 hour ago, brian69 said:

They were told to go out and do some sport, in an interview I saw some  teen  female skate boarders, complaining they rely on it for their Youtube channel and will lose their donations. Oz is on the way to fascism, 50 aud. for a packet of cigarettes, A class drugs are cheaper ! Mucking Fental.. init.

 

I sometimes spend hours a day on YouTube and none of the content I watch is "harmful".

 

Working out how to solve issues at work, motorcycle reviews, sporting highlights, documentaries, news/current affairs etc. 

 

To ban under 16's from a brilliant resource like YouTube is like banning them from playing all sport because someone broke their leg playing Rugby. A massive over-reaction.

 

Unfortunately, as Britain is learning, electing left wing governments has massive negative consequences. 

Kids don't need social media, tiktok etc.

 

Just look at the post counts and time spent on AN by some members to see how utterly consuming the internet can be for those that are not fully intellectually formed.

27 minutes ago, Packer said:

Kids don't need social media, tiktok etc.

 

Who appointed you to decide what they need or do not need.

 

There were far better ways to handle this. They way they have handled this is just a massive fudge, packer. 

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Who appointed you to decide what they need or do not need.

 

Me. 

The kids will find a way round this stupid idea  and then the government will  reveal the real reason for this stupid law... 

the introduction of digital ID for everything...'to protect the children'

everyone using the internet/everything will have to prove they are over 16,and thus they will know everyone's ID,  censorship, compliance and prosecutions will ensue !