From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access
Australia and European countries are advancing legislation to restrict children's social media access, citing mental health and safety concerns. The measures include stricter age verification and parental controls, potentially setting a global precedent.
Background
- A growing number of governments (Australia, several European nations, and others) are passing or proposing laws to restrict minors' access to social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, often by requiring age verification or parental consent.
- Australia passed a law in late 2024 banning social media for under-16s, with enforcement starting in 2025 — a globally watched test case. The EU's Digital Services Act also imposes stricter obligations on platforms regarding minors' safety.
- These moves are driven by widespread concern over youth mental health (anxiety, depression, body image issues), exposure to harmful content, and platform addiction. Tech companies argue such bans are too blunt, hard to enforce, and risk infringing on free expression or pushing kids to less regulated parts of the internet.
- The core tension: protecting children vs. preserving open, private, and anonymous access to digital services — with no consensus on how age verification should work technically or who should be liable.