Governments worldwide are stepping up efforts to regulate children's use of social media as concerns grow over the impact of digital platforms on young users. The proposed and enacted measures aim to reduce risks associated with cyberbullying, harmful content, excessive screen time, and mental health challenges, while also sparking debate over privacy and internet freedom.

Australia Leads the Global Push

Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media access for users under the age of 16, with the legislation taking effect in December 2025.

The law applies to major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, Reddit, and Twitch, while exempting services such as WhatsApp and YouTube Kids.

Technology companies are required to implement reliable age-verification systems, with penalties of up to AUD 49.5 million for non-compliance.

More Countries Introduce Similar Measures

Australia is no longer alone in pursuing stricter regulation of children's online activity, as several governments have announced similar legislation or policy proposals.

France

France has approved legislation prohibiting social media use by children under the age of 15, with the law expected to take effect in September. The measures also include expanding restrictions on mobile phone use in secondary schools.

Canada

Canada has introduced proposed legislation that would ban social media access for users under 16. Under the proposal, technology companies could avoid restrictions by demonstrating effective child safety and protection measures.

Denmark

The Danish government is preparing legislation that would prohibit social media use by children under 15, while also developing a national age-verification application to support enforcement.

Greece

Greece plans to introduce restrictions beginning in January 2027, preventing children under 15 from accessing social media platforms in an effort to address anxiety, sleep disorders, and digital addiction.

Indonesia

Indonesia has also announced plans to prohibit children under 16 from accessing platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Roblox, and other social media services.

Other Countries Considering Restrictions

Several additional countries are exploring similar legislation or policy frameworks, including:

Austria
Germany
Malaysia
Poland
Slovenia
Spain
Türkiye
United Kingdom

The proposed minimum age requirements and enforcement mechanisms vary from one country to another.

Balancing Child Safety and Privacy

While these initiatives have gained support from many governments and child safety advocates, they have also faced criticism from digital rights organizations and technology experts.

Critics argue that mandatory age-verification systems could compromise user privacy and question whether such regulations can effectively prevent children from accessing social media platforms.

Governments, however, maintain that the primary objective is to create a safer online environment for young users while placing greater responsibility on technology companies to protect children.

The growing number of countries pursuing these measures highlights the emergence of child online safety as a global policy priority, with further legislation and more sophisticated age-verification technologies expected to be introduced in the coming years.