From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access

• Australia's landmark law, effective December 10, 2025, carries penalties up to A$49.5 million ($35.3 million) for non-compliant platforms
• European countries including France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Norway, and Poland are pursuing bans with minimum ages between 13-16, while the EU Parliament called for harmonized age limits
• Asian nations including India (state-level in Karnataka), Indonesia, and Malaysia are implementing restrictions, with China already requiring device-level 'minor mode' controls
• Tech platforms like TikTok and Snapchat currently require users to be at least 13, but advocates say controls are insufficient as official data shows large numbers of underage accounts exist

Summary: Global Movement to Restrict Children's Social Media Access

Key Developments

A worldwide regulatory trend is emerging to limit children's access to social media platforms, with at least 17 countries implementing or planning age restrictions. Australia led this movement in December 2024, becoming the first country to ban social media for children under 16, with enforcement beginning December 10, 2025.

Primary Targets

Major platforms affected include TikTok, Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Alphabet's YouTube, Snapchat, and Roblox. Most platforms currently require users to be at least 13 years old, though enforcement has proven inadequate.

Geographic Scope

Europe: Spain, France, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Slovenia, Poland, and Turkey have enacted or proposed bans, typically for ages 13-16. Portugal's legislation includes fines up to 2% of global revenue for non-compliance.

Asia-Pacific: Indonesia, Malaysia, and India's Karnataka state are implementing restrictions. China already operates a "minor mode" with device-level restrictions.

Americas: Brazil's Digital Statute requires parental account linking for under-16s and bans addictive features like infinite scroll (effective March 17). The U.S. maintains limited protections through COPPA for under-13s, with state-level initiatives facing free speech challenges.

Financial Implications

Australia's penalties reach A$49.5 million ($35.3 million) for non-compliance. The European Parliament called for harmonized EU-wide age limits, though its November resolution lacks legal binding.

Market Impact

This regulatory wave poses significant challenges for social media companies' user growth and engagement metrics, particularly in younger demographics. Platforms face mounting compliance costs for age verification technology and potential revenue loss from restricted user bases.