The Global Push to Bar Children from Social Media

Australia currently stands as the pioneer, enforcing a strict under-16 ban that mandates platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X implement robust age verification. Companies failing to comply face fines reaching $34.4 million USD. While the Australian model focuses on platform responsibility, other nations are tailoring their approaches to local political landscapes. In Europe, France and Greece are pushing for age limits under 15, citing the need to curb sleep disruption and anxiety, while Denmark expects its coalition-backed legislation to reach the statute books by mid-2026.

Legislative momentum is equally strong in Asia and North America. Canada has introduced a digital safety bill for those under 16, though provisions allow tech giants to bypass restrictions if they prove sufficient protective measures are in place. Similarly, Malaysia and Indonesia are moving to formalize bans this year. However, the path to implementation remains uneven. In Germany, center-left coalition partners have voiced hesitation toward Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposed restrictions, and critics like Amnesty Tech argue that such blanket bans are fundamentally ineffective, potentially ignoring the digital realities of modern youth while raising significant privacy concerns over invasive government-mandated identity checks.