Ever since Australia banned its young people from social media, governments across the globe have been considering following suit.
It comes amid mounting concerns over the impact of social media on children’s health and safety.
It’s been four months since under-16s in Australia were banned from using platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. While only one other country has since implemented a straight blanket ban, many have taken steps to regulate online platforms.
Here is a summary of which countries already have rules in place for social media, as well as those proposing a stricter ban.
Australia
Australia’s landmark law came into force on 10 December 2025. It forced 10 major social media platforms to block young people under 16 or face fines of up to AU$49.5m (£25m).
Australia’s eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the restrictions “aim to protect young Australians from pressures and risks that users can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts”.
She added: “These come from design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing.”
Europe
France
At the beginning of the year France’s National Assembly approved legislation to ban children under the age of 15 from social media amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks.
On Tuesday the bill will be voted on in the Senate and, if it is passed, will go back to the lower house for a final vote.
If implemented, France would become the first European nation to implement a ban. It would be a step further than legislation which has been in place since 2018 that bans children from using mobile phones in colleges, which are attended by young people aged 11-15.
President Emmanuel Macron said…
