Australia has introduced a controversial law that bans individuals under 16 from accessing social media, representing one of the most stringent crackdowns on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, as governments worldwide look for ways to protect children from harmful content.

This sweeping regulation, enacted late Thursday, establishes some of the toughest internet usage rules outside of China and other authoritarian regimes, potentially motivating other countries to pursue similar measures. From Florida and Texas to France and the UK, officials have either begun or are considering increasing age limits for social media access or tightening content monitoring.

The core of this discussion revolves around the alarming effects of social media that lead to tragic events. A notable case involves a 16-year-old boy whose social media was flooded with videos of despair and death, who sadly took his life by stepping in front of a train in Bayport, New York. Similarly, a 15-year-old girl from Australia ended her life by hanging after suffering years of online bullying.

While the ban in Australia has strong public support—77% according to a YouGov poll—it has faced considerable backlash from major tech companies. Key stakeholders, such as Meta Platforms Inc., argue that the regulations are flawed or ineffectual, while X, under Elon Musk’s leadership, has raised questions about the legality of the ban, hinting at a potential legal challenge. Academics are worried about the unforeseen consequences of such a sweeping prohibition.

The new law, which is set to take effect within the next year, places the onus on digital platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and X to implement the age restrictions, with penalties of up to A$50 million ($32 million) for violations. However, how these platforms will verify ages remains uncertain since the government has already dismissed the use of official documents like passports due to privacy concerns. Children who bypass these verification measures will not face penalties, nor will their parents.

This legislation poses risks to the business models of some of the world’s most valuable companies, as they confront mounting global scrutiny over issues tied to their services, such as rising mental health issues, online fraud, subpar academic performance, and grooming. A successful enforcement of the ban would deny a key demographic access—millions of adolescents highly targeted by advertisers, whom companies aim to engage early.

In a statement, Meta indicated that it would adhere to the law but expressed concerns about the rushed nature of the legislation, which they believe overlooked evidence, existing industry measures for ensuring age-appropriate experiences, and the views of young users.

Anthony Albanese Photographer: Rohan Thomson/Bloomberg

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a grave warning in September following an extensive study on social media usage among nearly 280,000 school-aged children across 44 countries—one of the largest studies of its kind. The WHO cautioned that problematic social media activity could have lasting effects on adolescent development and overall health.

The Geneva-based organization called for “immediate and sustained action.”

This week’s decisive move from Australia, which imposes age restrictions without requiring parental consent, sets a new precedent.

“We want Australian children to enjoy their childhood,” stated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the introduction of the legislation last week. Generally, social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old.

Read More: Australia’s Social Media Ban for Under 16s to Become Law

However, the straightforward nature of Australia’s approach has unveiled the complexity of the underlying issue.

YouTube, categorized by the Australian government as a health- and education-focused platform, is exempt from the ban, despite the often toxic comments it hosts. Online gaming and messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Discord are also not included, even though they too can be sites for bullying and grooming.

One major flaw in a ban aimed at youth is its failure to confront the creation of harmful content, asserts Lisa Given, a professor of information sciences at RMIT University in Melbourne. She advocates for platform owners to disable detrimental algorithms that overwhelm social media users with unwanted content. Furthermore, there should be enhanced investment in digital literacy for both children and their guardians, according to Given.

“This legislation is fundamentally misguided,” she stated. “It represents a simplistic solution to a deeply complex problem. And why set the threshold at 16? It seems arbitrary.”

Nearly all major social media firms, including TikTok, X, and Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), voiced concerns regarding the new law during a rushed Senate inquiry prior to the bill’s passage.

TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance Ltd., labeled the legislation as “rushed” and “unworkable,” highlighting “unresolved issues and concerns.”

Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, noted that previous international attempts at broad, mandatory age verification have proven ineffective. X, formerly known as Twitter prior to Musk’s takeover, expressed “serious concerns about the bill’s legality.”

Unicef, the UN agency focused on children, has warned that Australia’s ban might compel young users to seek more dangerous, unregulated spaces online. The law may also undermine children’s rights and limit their access to vital information for their well-being, as per Unicef.

“Rather than prohibiting children, we should hold social media companies accountable for creating age-appropriate, safe, and supportive online environments,” stated Katie Maskiell, head of child rights policy and advocacy at Unicef Australia, in her submission to parliament.

Globally, elected officials face a daunting challenge. Many parents feel overwhelmed and demand reduced screen time for their children. Their pleas for government intervention are intensified by heartbreaking occurrences of youth suicides linked to social media bullying or sextortion. However, mitigating the stark dangers of social media is complex and must not undermine its benefits.

“It’s almost impossible to be a teenager in most parts of the world without social media,” remarked Stephen Scheeler, former head of Facebook in Australia and New Zealand, in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “Regulating that access from the perspectives of parents or the government is far from straightforward.”

Various countries and U.S. states have attempted to limit minors’ access to social media, with mixed results.

A Florida bill that restricts social media accounts for children under 14 has faced legal challenges, as have initiatives in states like Arkansas and Ohio requiring parental consent for social media use by minors.

Norway is considering setting the minimum age for social media access at 15, following reports showing that many children under 13— the current threshold—still engage with popular platforms, according to the Guardian and other recent reports.

Even if Australia’s ban proves difficult or impossible to enforce, other countries are likely to adopt similar measures as concerns about social media’s effects on children mount, according to Simon Kemp, founder of Kepios Pte., a Singapore-based digital consulting firm focused on online behavior.

“I would be very surprised if we don’t see more of this,” Kemp commented.

France is revitalizing its efforts to keep individuals under 15 off social media, as reported by Politico this week. French Education Minister Anne Genetet, a trained medical doctor, told Politico during a meeting of EU education and youth ministers that the EU should follow Australia’s example.

The UK’s Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Peter Kyle, has contacted the Australian government to gain insight into the rationale behind its ban. Kyle has indicated that he is not ruling out the possibility of a future ban, but emphasizes that any actions must be based on evidence.

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