Countries from Australia to France and Malaysia are introducing or considering stricter controls on children’s social media access, using bans, higher minimum ages, parental-consent rules and device-level limits. Australia leads with a law banning under-16s from major platforms from December 10, 2025, backed by substantial fines. The measures reflect growing concerns about young people’s mental health, online bullying and platform design. Tech firms typically set a 13+ registration age, but enforcement and under-13 use remain major challenges.
From Australia to Europe: Countries Tighten Rules to Restrict Children’s Social Media Access
FILE PHOTO: A teenager poses holding a mobile phone displaying a message from TikTok as law banning social media for users under 16 in Australia takes effect, in Sydney, Australia, December 10, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
Governments worldwide are moving to tighten rules around children’s access to social media amid growing concerns about mental health, online bullying and platform design that encourages prolonged use. Measures range from outright age-based bans to higher minimum ages, parental-consent requirements and device-level restrictions.
Australia
In a landmark step, Australia passed a law in November 2024 requiring major social media platforms to block users under 16 from accessing services such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram from December 10, 2025. Non-compliant companies face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($34.3 million).
Britain
On January 20, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain is considering an Australia-style ban to better protect children online. The government has not set a specific age threshold but is reviewing whether the current digital age of consent should be raised.
France
France’s National Assembly approved legislation on January 26 to ban children under 15 from social media, citing risks from online bullying and harms to mental health. The bill must still pass the Senate and return to the lower house for final adoption.
Denmark, Malaysia, Norway
Denmark proposed banning social media use for under-15s while allowing parental exemptions for some 13- and 14-year-olds. Malaysia announced plans in November to ban users under 16 beginning in 2026. Norway has proposed raising the consent age from 13 to 15 and is exploring an absolute minimum age of 15.
Germany and Italy
Germany allows 13- to 16-year-olds to use social media only with parental consent, though child-protection groups call current safeguards insufficient. Italy requires parental permission for under-14s to register for accounts; no consent is needed from age 14 upward.
A girl uses her mobile phone in Sydney, Australia, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
China
China’s regulator enforces a "minor mode" that combines device-level controls and app-specific rules to limit screen time and features for younger users.
India
India’s chief economic adviser on January 29 urged age restrictions on social platforms, calling some platform practices "predatory." The statement followed regional interest in measures similar to Australia’s.
The United States
U.S. federal law under COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) bars firms from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Several U.S. states have passed laws requiring parental consent for social media access, but such measures have faced legal challenges on free-speech grounds.
European Union
The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution in November calling for a minimum social media age of 16 to ensure age-appropriate engagement while also urging harmonised rules (including a proposed age of 13 for some services). The resolution does not create binding law.
Tech Industry Measures
Major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat generally require users to be at least 13 to register. Child-safety advocates argue that these age gates are easy to bypass and that many under-13s already use social apps in several countries.
($1 = 1.4434 Australian dollars)
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