Factbox-From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access
Australia's landmark ban on social media for children under 16 highlights a growing global push to regulate platform access over health and safety concerns
In December, Australia enacted a historic measure by becoming the first country in the world to ban social media access for children under the age of 16. Under this new regulation, young users are blocked from accessing several major global platforms, including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube, and Meta's Instagram and Facebook. The landmark decision represents a significant shift in how governments address the digital presence of minors.[1][2]
This regulatory action comes in response to mounting international concerns regarding the impact of social media on the health and safety of children. As a result, various countries and companies are actively exploring and implementing measures to restrict or regulate how younger demographics interact with these online platforms.[1][2]
