Australia&rsquo;s nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16 came into force on Wednesday, marking a major shift in the country&rsquo;s approach to online safety. 
Platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook have been directed to block their content for underage users or face penalties of up to $33 million.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a video message as the order took effect, calling it &ldquo;a day when families are taking back power.&rdquo;
He described the move as an opportunity for parents to reclaim control from major technology companies, adding that it affirms the right &ldquo;for kids to be kids and for parents to have greater peace of mind.&rdquo;
A total of 10 major platforms were ordered to implement blocking measures from midnight on Tuesday. 
While the decision drew criticism from major tech firms, many parents welcomed the measure as a long-awaited safeguard for teenagers.
Calling it a &ldquo;proud day,&rdquo; Albanese said the law demonstrates that policymakers can effectively address online harm. 
&ldquo;This will make an enormous difference. It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced,&rdquo; he said.
The government has cited research linking social media usage to declining mental health among teenagers, pointing to risks such as misinformation, cyberbullying and harmful body image portrayals. 
As the deadline approached, children across the country posted farewell messages to followers ahead of losing access.
Elon Musk&rsquo;s X was the final major platform to comply, publicly confirming on Wednesday that it would enforce the ban. 
The company stated, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not our choice,&rdquo; explaining that the law required it to restrict content for users who do not meet the new age criteria.
Companies have introduced mixed age-verification systems, using behavioural analysis, selfies and document checks to identify underage users.

Australian teens restricted as new social ban begins

Australia’s under-16 social media ban starts as PM hails major safety milestone

Australia Enforces Social Media Ban For Under-16s

Australia’s under-16 social media ban starts as PM hails major safety milestone

December 10, 2025 | 15:43 IST