Australia has announced a major step to protect children online. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that the government will ban social media for children under 16 years of age starting from December 10, 2025, to ensure their safety in the digital space.

This move is part of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which will come into effect on December 10, 2025. Once the law is active, anyone under 16 will not be allowed to create or maintain accounts on major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Kick.

The Australian government said the main goal of this law is to protect children from online risks such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, and the addictive nature of social media algorithms. Authorities believe that children are increasingly spending more time online, which affects their mental health, emotional well-being, and ability to focus on real-world activities.

Prime Minister Albanese said the decision was taken to make the internet safer for young people. “This is about making sure our kids are safe online. The digital world should not come at the cost of their mental health or development,” he stated.

The government explained that the legislation is based on findings from various studies linking social media overuse to anxiety, poor sleep, and shorter attention spans among children and teenagers. The new law is also part of Australia’s broader effort to regulate technology companies and hold them accountable for the impact of their platforms on young users.

Once implemented, this will make Australia one of the first countries in the world to legally restrict social media access based on age, setting an example for other nations to follow in protecting children in the digital era.