Subj : "We're going to be watching really closely" politicians around t To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Dec 08 2025 17:45:07 "We're going to be watching really closely" politicians around the world are taking inspiration from Australia's social media ban Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:40:40 +0000 Description: As Australia implements its strict age verification regime, worldwide politicians are taking notes. So, which country will be next to kick off teens from social media apps? FULL STORY ====================================================================== With Australia's landmark social media restrictions set to come into force in just two days, global policymakers are closely watching Australia. Starting from December 10, the likes of Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and others will be required to take "reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from using their platforms. Fines for failing to do so can reach $49.5 million AUD (approximately $32 million USD). Australia isn't the first country to implement mandatory age verification this year. In the UK, for example, social media platforms must verify that users are at least 18 to access certain content deemed "harmful." The implemention of age checks has proven to be anything but bulletproof, with many users in the UK, US, and Europe turning to the best VPN apps as an easy workaround. To counter this, platforms in Australia are expected to " stop under-16s from using VPNs " to evade the social media ban, though it's unclear whether they would be effective in the first place. What's certain is that the world is watching closely and several governments are already considering similar laws. So, which could be next? The UK could replicate it "if it it is successful" (Image credit: Getty Images) The government said it wanted to make the UK "the safest place in the world to be online," when it passed the Online Safety Act back in 2023 and banning under-16s from social media platforms may be the next natural development. Talking to PoliticsHome , the chair of the Childrens Online Safety All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), Joani Reid, praised Australia's upcoming rules and said that the UK might look to replicate "if it is successful and implemented well." "We're all going to be watching really, really closely Good on Australia, it sends a really clear message, more than anything, that social media is inappropriate for children," she said, echoing similar stances previously expressed by other MPs. A US State-by-state regime for now Around half of all US states have now implemented some form of age verification following the introduction of Missouris restrictions on adult websites at the end of November. And federal legislation may soon follow, with Congress considering a range of proposals, including controversial rules for App Store age verification . Currently, the main federal safeguard is still the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prevents companies from collecting data from users under 13 without parental consent. Several states have enforced stricter social media laws, most notably Mississippi, where Bluesky withdrew from the market rather than comply. Recent allegations that Meta concealed potential child harm are likely to intensify calls for reform, with Australia's new law expected to serve as a key reference point in upcoming debates. EU already considering an Australia-like ban (Image credit: Shutterstock) The EU has moved beyond just watching Australia's ban; it's laying the groundwork for its own . On November 26, 2025, the European Parliament voted in favor of banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms (483 votes to 92). Led by Danish Social Democrat Christel Schaldemose, the resolution calls on the European Commission to remedy Europe's "fragmented approach to age assurance" by establishing consistent verification standards across the bloc. On a national level, France, Spain, Germany, and Denmark are already considering new rules for children using social media apps, though most of these proposals still rely heavily on parental consent rather than a hard ban. Malaysia wants an under-16 ban in 2026 Finally, Malaysia has confirmed its plans to ban social media for users under 16 starting in 2026, according to recent reports from Al Jazeera . Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the government is currently reviewing the verification systems used by Australia and other nations with the aim of establishing a compliance framework "by next year." While this specific ban is in its early stages, it aligns with the country's ongoing commitment to address social media harms. Platforms have already faced increased regulation and services with over 8 million users must now hold a valid license to operate. What's next? (Image credit: Kenneth Cheung/via Getty Images) While it's too early to determine if Australia's under-16s social media ban is the correct approach, the legislation has definitely caught the attention of global policymakers and is likely to provoke a wave of new laws globally. According to the government, that's exactly what it was hoping for. "When youve got Australia, a middle power taking on these global giants it has helped that we have others in our corner now," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, defending his decision to authorize a reported $100,000 trip to New York City for Minister Anika Wells. The delegation's goal was to promote Australias social media ban directly to global leaders at the UN General Assembly. However, industry experts remain divided on the potential outcomes of permanently barring children from social media apps. Meanwhile, privacy advocates have repeatedly expressed concerns over the increased data collection required for age assurance. These tensions between policymakers and global privacy advocates are expected to continue as Australia and other countries impose similar bans. For now, it's uncertain whether such measures can be implemented while preserving privacy, or if they are destined to spread globally regardless of those concerns. 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