Australia Bans Social Media for Under 16s; World Eyes Stricter Rules

• Australia will ban social media for children under 16 from December 10, 2025, with platforms facing fines up to AUD 49.5 million for non-compliance.
• The ban, part of the Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024, is considered the world's strictest age-based social media regulation.
• Other nations like China, Iran, and North Korea enforce strict social media controls, including time limits for minors, outright bans, or government-controlled intranets.
• Countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have implemented temporary social media blocks during political unrest or due to content concerns.
• Uganda introduced a social media tax in 2018, while European countries and others like Malaysia, Denmark, and New Zealand are considering similar age restrictions.

Why It Matters: Australia's strict social media ban for minors sets a global precedent for online child safety.