Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from having social media accounts starting in December 2025 [1, 2, 3]. Seven months into the ban, as of August 2026, most under-16 users continue to access social media platforms without effective age verification [1].
Tests of 50 new social media accounts created after the ban found not a single platform required robust age verification [1]. Methods used by minors to bypass restrictions include asking parents to verify accounts on their behalf. Sydney resident Annie said, “我就请我妈妈帮我做人脸验证，很快就通过了。我觉得平台并没有设置太多防范措施” (I asked my mom to do facial ID verification, and it passed quickly. I feel platforms have not set many prevention measures) [1]. Another user, Tolson from Sydney, noted, “自禁令实施以来，我使用的应用程序根本没要我验证年龄，而且我至今仍在使用这些应用” (Since the ban’s implementation, the apps I use did not ask for age verification, and I am still using them) [1].
In response to low compliance, Australia doubled the maximum fines for platforms violating the ban and warned they could face lawsuits [1]. The government aims to increase pressure on tech companies to implement stronger safeguards.
Meanwhile, other countries are moving toward similar restrictions. The UK government announced plans to introduce default overnight social media curfews blocking 16- and 17-year-olds from access between midnight and 6 a.m. starting spring 2027. It will also ban under-16s from social media altogether [4, 5]. UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said these measures will help young people get more sleep, focus on school, and spend quality time with family. She added, "We want young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive" [4].
South Korea is considering banning children under 14 from social media and plans to limit addictive features for teenagers aged 14 to 19 [2, 3]. Kim Jong-cheol, chairman of South Korea’s media regulator, described excessive social media use by teenagers as "a global problem" [2].
Australia’s ban, which targets users under 16, is the strictest yet but faces challenges on enforcement. The government’s next step is to continue increasing penalties and possibly pursue legal action against noncompliant platforms [1].
