Belinda Sullivan, one of our Australian-based legal consultants (and mother to two teenagers under 16), reflects on the country’s new social media ban and what it could mean for the UK.

Today, Australia has introduced a world-first: a blanket ban on social media use for under-16s under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024. This act represents a significant departure in the realm of social media regulation.

What the law does:

  • users under 16 must have their accounts deactivated and cannot create new ones.
  • the ban covers major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, Kick and Threads.
  • platforms face fines of up to AUD 49.5m for failing to take “reasonable steps” to block under-16s.

Steps may include age-verification tools such as selfie-based facial estimation or ID checks to enforce the social media ban.

The Australian government says the measure protects young people from cyberbullying, grooming, harmful content, addictive algorithms and design, as well as mental-health harms.

Will a Social Media Ban work?

Supporters compare the ban to other age-based restrictions and argue it holds platforms accountable. Critics warn it risks privacy intrusion through biometric or ID-based age checks and could cut young people off from vital social and support networks.

Experts note that a ban doesn’t address deeper issues such as platform design, data profiling, or algorithmic risks. Furthermore, the social media ban may drive young people to unregulated apps or workarounds like VPNs. Age-assurance systems also bring risks of misclassification, exclusion, and data-security concerns.

What does this mean for the UK?

As the first law of its kind, it’s being watched closely by the UK and beyond. Key questions now include:

  • can age-based bans be enforced without compromising privacy and civil rights?
  • will the UK replicate the model or focus instead on platform regulation?
  • how do bans affect digital equity and youth participation? Two Australian teens are already challenging the law on grounds of freedom of political-speech.

Does the UK need a Social Media Ban for Under 16s?

The UK has so far favoured regulation and not bans. The Online Safety Act 2023, focuses on safer design, age-appropriate content, and platform accountability. Many UK child-safety groups argue an Australian-style ban would punish young people rather than address harmful business practices. Others warn it could isolate vulnerable youth and push them to unsafe spaces.

Nonetheless, Australia’s move likely increases pressure on UK policymakers to strengthen protections. It also signals a shift toward governments asserting greater control over who can access social platforms; a trend social media companies ignore at their peril. 

The wider question remains: Are children best protected by bans, or by redesigning platforms, data practices, and algorithms to make them safer by default?  Watch this space as the social media ban conversation develops further.