Australia in December became the first country in the world to ban social media for children under 16, blocking their access to platforms including TikTok, YouTube (Alphabet) and Metin's Instagram and Facebook.
The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures, with Britain and France the latest to hint at such plans, as concerns grow about the impact of social media on children's health and safety.
Australija
The landmark law passed in November 2024 required major social media platforms to block access to minors under the age of 16 by December 10, 2025, in one of the strictest regulations targeting major tech companies in the world. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to $34,3 million.
Britain
Britain is considering a social media ban modeled after Australia to better protect children online. The government did not specify an age limit, but said it was considering a ban “for children under a certain age” and whether the current digital age of consent is set too low.
China
China's cyberspace regulator has introduced a so-called "minor mode" program, which includes device-level restrictions and specific rules for applications to limit screen time based on age.
Danish company
Denmark announced in November that it would ban social media for children under 15, with the option for parents to grant exceptions and allow access to certain platforms. Most parties in parliament have said they will support the plan ahead of a formal vote.
Francuska
France's National Assembly passed a law on January 26 banning children under 15 from using social media, amid growing concerns about online violence and mental health risks. The bill still needs to be considered by the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
Njemacka
Minors aged 13 to 16 can only use social media with parental consent. However, child protection advocates argue that the controls are insufficient.
Italy
In Italy, children under the age of 14 need parental consent to open accounts on social networks, while from that age onwards, consent is not required.
Malaysia
Malaysia announced in November that it would ban social media for users under the age of 16 from 2026.
Norveška
The Norwegian government proposed in October 2024 to raise the age at which children can consent to terms of use on social media from 13 to 15, although parents would still be able to give consent on their behalf if they are under that age. The government has also begun work on legislation that would set an absolute minimum age of 15 for using social media.
SAD
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act prohibits companies from collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. Several states have also passed laws requiring minors to obtain parental consent to access social media, but those regulations have been challenged in court over free speech issues.
EU legislation
In November, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the introduction of a minimum age of 16 for social media, to ensure “age-appropriate online engagement.” The resolution also calls for a harmonised EU digital age of 13 for accessing social media, as well as a 13-year age limit for video-sharing services and “AI companions.” The resolution is not legally binding.
Self-regulation of the technology industry
Social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat state that users must be at least 13 years old to open an account. However, child protection advocates argue that these controls are insufficient, and official data in several European countries shows that a huge number of children under 13 have social media accounts.
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