Days after Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, Reddit has filed a lawsuit against the government, calling the restriction an intrusion on free political discourse. This follows an earlier legal challenge by two teenagers representing an Australian libertarian group. While the ban officially took effect on December 10, companies like Meta began deactivating under-16 accounts days earlier.

Young Australians are adjusting to life without TikTok and Instagram, while parents, researchers, and lawmakers worldwide—including in India—are observing the ban closely. Countries like Denmark and Malaysia are considering similar rules, and Australia’s experience may serve as a model. Outside of Australia, most nations focus on age-gating rather than a full ban.

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India

India doesn’t specifically ban social media for children, but the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, requires platforms to obtain verifiable parental consent before processing children’s data, defined as under 18. The law also prohibits data processing that could harm a child and restricts tracking or targeted advertising.

European Union

The EU’s Digital Services Act curbs political misinformation but doesn’t specifically address child-focused social media harms. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, is studying Australia’s approach to algorithms that exploit children’s vulnerabilities. The European Parliament recently called for an under-16 social media ban, and pilot age verification programmes are underway in several EU nations.

France

France requires parental consent for under-15s to create accounts but hasn’t enforced it yet. The country is also exploring a ban for under-15s and a 10-hour daily limit for teens aged 15–18.

Norway

Norway announced plans in July 2025 to restrict social media access for under-15s, emphasising children’s rights, including freedom of expression and access to information.

Denmark

Denmark announced a ban for users under 15 in November 2025, with a parental override for 13- and 14-year-olds. Legislation and implementation timelines remain unclear.

United States

US state laws mostly require age verification for adult content sites. The US has opposed Australia’s ban, with President Trump criticising it, and Congress has summoned Australia’s eSafety Commissioner after complaints from American tech companies.

New Zealand

New Zealand plans similar legislation, following a parliamentary committee’s review. A report is expected in early 2026.

Malaysia

Malaysia will ban children under 16 from social media starting in 2026, after introducing licensing, age verification, and content safety requirements for platforms with over eight million users from January 2025.

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South Korea

South Korea has opted against a social media ban but will restrict mobile device use in classrooms starting March 2026.