Which country enforced an under-16 social media ban in January 2026, requiring platforms to restrict underage access?

Australia became the first country in the world to enforce a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16. This landmark legislation, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, officially came into effect on December 10, 2025, meaning that by January 2026, platforms were required to restrict underage access. The law places the responsibility squarely on social media companies to implement "reasonable steps" to prevent minors under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts in Australia.

The primary motivation behind this bold move by the Australian government is to safeguard the mental health and well-being of its young citizens. Concerns over the pervasive impact of social media on children, including exposure to cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predators, led to the introduction of this protective measure. The legislation does not penalize children or their parents for non-compliance; instead, social media platforms face substantial monetary penalties, up to A$49.5 million, if they fail to adequately verify ages and block underage users.

Major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, and X are among those designated as age-restricted under the new law. While the ban has been met with mixed reactions, including some skepticism about its effectiveness and concerns from teenagers about isolation, it has undeniably sparked a global conversation. As of early 2026, several other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Malaysia, are actively considering or drafting similar legislation to address the challenges of children's online safety.