Australia officially bans social media for children under 16, Big platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook asked to…

Australia has officially put its ban on social media for children under 16 into action as of Wednesday, December 10. Big platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook have been told to block access for young users. After the rules kicked in, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a video saying it was “a day when families are taking back power.” In his message, he said the ban gives parents more control and helps protect children, allowing them to “just be kids” while giving families more peace of mind.

According to Reuters, ten large platforms were instructed to block their content for anyone under 16 starting from midnight on Tuesday. Companies that do not follow the order could face penalties of up to USD 33 million.

While tech companies pushed back against the decision, many parents supported the move.

Calling it a “proud day,” Prime Minister Albanese said the new rules show that governments can take real steps to reduce online harm. He added that the change will have a huge impact and is “one of the biggest social and cultural shifts” Australia has ever seen.

The government brought in the ban after studies showed that social media can seriously affect teenagers’ mental health from exposure to misinformation and bullying to unhealthy body image content.

As the deadline approached, many children posted final messages to their followers before losing access to their accounts.

According to the report, Elon Musk’s platform X was the last major site to enforce the new rule. On Wednesday, the company said it would follow the law, even though it added, “It’s not our choice.” It has now blocked access for anyone who does not meet the age requirement.

The platforms say they are using a mix of tools to estimate users’ ages — including behaviour patterns, selfies, and checking uploaded ID documents.