Australia in December implemented a pioneering law that blocks children younger than 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook. The statute - one of the most stringent global efforts to regulate large technology platforms - requires companies to prevent use by under-16s from December 10, 2025, and threatens fines of up to A$49.5 million ($34.9 million) for noncompliance.
This move has fastened attention on similar initiatives worldwide. Several nations have introduced or proposed age-based restrictions, while international bodies and the tech industry have offered a mix of voluntary minimums and technical controls. Below is a country-by-country outline of current policy developments and the stances of platforms and advocates.
Australia
The December law forces major social networks to block access for minors under 16 beginning December 10, 2025. Companies that do not meet the law's requirements face penalties of up to A$49.5 million, equivalent to $34.9 million at the exchange rate provided in the original report.
Britain
British officials are considering measures similar to Australia’s ban, along with tighter safety rules governing AI chatbots for children under 16, according to technology minister Liz Kendall. Those proposals could be advanced as early as this year.
China
China has implemented a "minor mode" program that imposes restrictions at the device level and sets app-specific rules to limit screen time based on users' ages.
Denmark
Denmark announced in November plans to prohibit social media use by children under 15, while allowing parents to grant platform access to children as young as 13.
France
France’s National Assembly approved legislation in January to bar children under 15 from social media, citing concerns such as online bullying and mental health risks. The bill must still pass the Senate before the lower house can hold a final vote.
Germany
In Germany, minors aged 13 to 16 may use social media only with parental consent. Child protection advocates have argued that such controls are not stringent enough.
Greece
A senior government source indicated on February 3 that Greece is "very close" to announcing a ban on social media use for children under 15.
India
India’s chief economic adviser urged age restrictions on social media platforms in January, characterizing them as "predatory" in how they encourage prolonged engagement. The call followed an announcement from the tourist state of Goa that it was considering restrictions similar to Australia's.
Italy
Italian rules require parental consent for social media signups for children under 14. No consent is required for users older than that threshold.
Malaysia
Malaysia said in November that it will ban social media use for people under 16 beginning in 2026.
Norway
Norway proposed in October 2024 to raise the minimum age at which children can consent to social media terms to 15 from 13. Parents would still be able to provide consent on their children's behalf. The government has also started drafting legislation to set an absolute minimum age of 15 for social media use.
Slovenia
Slovenia is preparing a law to prevent children under 15 from accessing social media, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon said on February 6.
Spain
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced in early February that the country will bar minors under 16 from social media and require platforms to install age verification systems. It remains unclear whether the proposal will need approval by the country’s highly fragmented lower house.
The United States
At the federal level, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) already bars companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Several U.S. states have enacted laws that require parental consent for minors to use social platforms, but those measures have faced court challenges on free speech grounds.
European Union
In November the European Parliament adopted a nonbinding resolution calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media. The resolution also urged a harmonised EU approach that would set a digital age limit of 13 for social media access and a similar age limit of 13 for video-sharing services and "AI companions."
Tech industry and oversight
Major platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat assert that users must be at least 13 to create accounts. Child protection groups counter that those measures fall short: official statistics in several European countries show substantial numbers of users under the age of 13 already hold social media accounts.
As governments move to tighten rules, companies face a range of technical and legal compliance challenges, while regulators consider different mixes of parental consent, device-level controls and outright age prohibitions.
Currency note
($1 = 1.4174 Australian dollars)