Australia Officially Bans Kids From Social Media – and American Parents Are Jealous

But US Courts Keep Blocking It

On December 10, 2025, Australia did something no country has ever done. It kicked more than a million children under 16 off social media.

TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and six other platforms had to delete accounts or face fines up to $32 million. Parents and kids face no penalties.

The platforms carry all the responsibility. American parents have been watching closely, because 58% of them say they want the same thing here.

But when US states try to pass similar laws, courts keep striking them down. Australia pulled it off because it doesn’t have a First Amendment.

America does, and that single difference explains why this fight looks so different on each side of the Pacific.

Over 200,000 TikTok Accounts Gone

When the clock struck midnight in Australia, the purge began. TikTok alone deactivated more than 200,000 accounts belonging to users under 16.

Meta had already started removing kids from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads a week earlier. YouTube signed out underage users and hid their channels, though it saved their data for when they turn 16.

Snapchat suspended accounts for three years or until users hit the age limit.

Communications Minister Anika Wells warned kids who thought they had dodged detection that platforms would keep checking.

Ten Platforms Made the Banned List

The law targets the ten biggest platforms where Australian kids spend their time.

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Threads, Twitch, and Kick all made the list. Each one must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from creating or keeping accounts.

Roblox, Pinterest, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids got exemptions, though officials said the list could change as new platforms gain popularity or old ones add features that raise concerns.

Parents and Kids Face No Fines

Australia designed the law to put pressure entirely on tech companies, not families. No parent can be fined for helping a child set up an account.

No kid faces punishment for sneaking past age verification.

The government wanted to avoid criminalizing normal family behavior while forcing platforms to take responsibility.

If a company fails to block underage users, courts can impose fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, roughly $32 million.

That threat is what makes the platforms comply.

Australians Overwhelmingly Supported the Ban

The law passed with 77% public approval, one of the most popular pieces of legislation in recent Australian history.

Parents cited cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to harmful content as their biggest concerns.

A government study found that 96% of Australian kids ages 10 to 15 use social media, and seven out of ten had seen harmful material including fight videos, eating disorder content, and misogynistic posts.

One in seven reported grooming behavior from adults. Wayne Holdsworth, whose son died after an online sextortion scam, called the ban a start.

American Parents Want This Too

Across the Pacific, American parents feel the same frustration.

A December 2025 poll by the Family Online Safety Institute found that 58% of US parents support banning social media for kids under 16.

A separate survey from the Wheatley Institute showed 79% of Americans want parental consent required before children can download social media apps.

The numbers cut across party lines.

Both Republicans and Democrats back restrictions, and a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act in January 2025.

Thirteen States Already Passed Laws

American states have not been sitting idle. As of late 2025, thirteen states passed laws restricting children’s access to social media.

Florida banned kids under 14 from platforms entirely. Utah and Texas require parental consent for anyone under 18.

New York banned algorithmic feeds for minors without parental approval.

Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Connecticut, and others added their own versions, each trying to find the right balance between protecting kids and surviving legal challenges.

Courts Keep Striking Them Down

Here’s where Australia and America diverge.

Federal judges have blocked social media laws in Ohio, Arkansas, Texas, Utah, Mississippi, California, and Maryland, ruling they violate the First Amendment.

The tech industry group NetChoice has filed lawsuits in state after state, arguing that age verification requirements burden free speech and that banning minors from platforms restricts their access to information.

Courts have largely agreed. The US Supreme Court is now considering its first case on social media age restrictions since 1997.

Florida’s Law Survived One Challenge

Not every state law has failed.

In March 2025, a federal judge in Florida rejected a request to block the state’s under-14 ban, allowing enforcement to begin while litigation continues.

Florida’s law requires platforms to verify ages and terminate accounts for children under 14, with parental consent required for 14 and 15-year-olds.

The ruling gave supporters hope, but the legal battle is far from over. Appeals are expected, and the outcome could shape what other states try next.

Australia Has No First Amendment

The reason Australia could act so decisively comes down to constitutional differences. Australia has no equivalent to the First Amendment.

Its government can regulate speech more directly without triggering the same legal challenges American laws face.

That doesn’t mean the ban went unchallenged.

A group called the Digital Freedom Project filed suit in Australia’s High Court, arguing the law violates an implied right to political communication.

But the bar for success is much higher than in the US, where free speech protections have stopped most state efforts cold.

Kids Are Already Finding Ways Around It

No ban is airtight, and Australian kids proved that on day one.

They had parents or older siblings help them create accounts. Virtual private networks let users appear to be in other countries.

Some children fooled age estimation technology by drawing on facial hair with markers. A poll found 53% of American kids believe they could bypass a similar ban.

Minister Wells acknowledged the challenge but said platforms would keep checking accounts and catching violators over time.

The real test is whether enforcement improves.

The World Is Watching This Experiment

Australia positioned itself as the first domino.

Denmark announced plans for an under-15 ban. France, Spain, Norway, Malaysia, and New Zealand are considering similar measures.

The European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution supporting age 16 minimums with parental consent for younger teens.

If Australia’s enforcement holds and youth mental health improves, other countries will follow. If kids find workarounds and platforms drag their feet, the whole model could collapse.

Either way, what happens in Australia over the next year will shape how governments everywhere think about protecting children online.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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