Special Report: Australia Enforces Strict Social Media Ban For Under-16s With Heavy Fines

In this Special Report, the focus is on the implementation of Australia's strict social media ban for children under 16. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, passed in November 2024, officially came into effect on December 10, 2025. The law mandates a minimum age of 16 for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, with companies facing fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for non-compliance. The programme highlights that while child-focused apps like YouTube Kids are exempt, the ban has sparked debate over privacy and effectiveness, with a constitutional challenge already underway in New South Wales.