Australia's Under-16 Social Media Prohibition: Global Implications

The provided source, an article from PressReleaseCloud.io dated December 10, 2025, primarily details the unprecedented, world-first ban on social media use in Australia for all users under the age of 16, effective December 9, 2025.

This regulation, affecting platforms like Instagram and TikTok, was enacted to safeguard youth mental health and protect against online dangers, citing extensive research linking social media use to rising anxiety and depression.

The article meticulously outlines the enforcement mechanisms, which place the legal and financial burden—including steep penalties of up to 10% of Australian turnover—on social media companies to implement sophisticated age verification.

While the ban has triggered mixed public reactions from supportive parents to frustrated teenagers who are actively seeking loopholes like VPNs, the government insists this is a crucial step forward and that other nations are closely observing Australia's approach as a potential global blueprint for digital regulation.