Australia’s plan to ban under-16s from social media just got international attention at the United Nations.
What happened: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promoted the country’s social media ban at a UN event in New York on 25 September, calling it “a crucial step in the right direction”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “inspired by Australia’s example” and that Europe is “watching and will be learning from you”.
Read more: Australia’s social media ban for teens draws praise at UN – The Star
What’s happening:
Starting December 2025, no one under 16 can use social media in Australia – including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and YouTube. Parents cannot give consent to override the ban. Platforms face fines up to $49.5 million if they fail to comply, with Australia wanting companies to use AI and behavioural data to estimate users’ ages rather than blanket ID verification.
Von der Leyen called it “plain common sense” at the UN General Assembly, with other countries and tech firms closely watching Australia’s approach as a potential model. The event featured an Australian mother, Emma Mason, whose daughter died by suicide in 2022 after cyberbullying. “They have monetised our children, they have known of the harm, and they let it happen”, Mason told world leaders.
What parents are saying:
Some see this as validation that their concerns about social media and children are being taken seriously at the highest levels. Others are watching to see if the ban actually works before forming opinions about whether their country should follow. Parents of teens are asking whether similar restrictions could come to their country within the next year or two.
What to consider:
Albanese acknowledged the ban “isn’t foolproof” but framed it as better than doing nothing. If Europe follows Australia’s lead, these restrictions could become standard across many countries fairly quickly. The fact that this is being discussed at the UN level – not just individual countries – suggests this could become a global trend rather than just one country’s experiment.
Related: Instagram parental controls don’t work | New York social media algorithm ban
