Australia Bans Teen Social Media Use—Could It Happen in the U.S.?

A New Era of Social Media Regulation in Australia

Australia is set to implement a groundbreaking law that bans children under the age of 16 from using major social media platforms. This regulation, which comes into effect on Wednesday, has drawn global attention as regulators, parents, and teenagers observe how it unfolds.

The law was introduced in response to growing concerns about the negative impact of social media on mental health, including issues like addiction, body image problems, depression, and exposure to bullying or sexual exploitation. Two Australian teens have already filed a lawsuit to block the law, arguing that it infringes on their right to political expression. Critics have also raised concerns about free speech and privacy.

In addition to Australia, countries like Denmark and Malaysia are considering similar measures to restrict young teens from social media. In the United States, some lawmakers and political leaders have also called for stricter policies. This raises an important question: Could a similar ban be implemented in the U.S.?

“This is a hugely important test case,” said Michael Posner, director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. “If it succeeds … then I think a number of states, a number of governments are going to say, ‘Wow, look what they did in Australia.’”

Understanding the Australia Social Media Ban

The Australian law mandates that popular social media apps, classified as "age-restricted social media platforms," must verify users' ages and take steps to remove and block children under 16 starting December 10. Failure to comply could result in significant fines.

The list of affected apps includes Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube. Other platforms, such as Roblox and Discord, are not currently subject to the law but could be added in the future.

Many of these platforms have expressed concerns about the feasibility of implementing the law, claiming they already have protective measures in place. However, most have pledged to take steps to block underage users. Teens who bypass the ban, such as by using a VPN, will not face consequences.

How Tech Companies Verify Users’ Ages

To comply with the law, platforms are using official documents or AI systems that estimate a user’s age by scanning their face. Australia conducted a government-funded study last year that tested various age verification methods, concluding that it can be done without compromising privacy.

However, AI age estimation tools have faced criticism for their accuracy. In the UK, some teens used video game characters’ faces to bypass age gates. Critics argue that these systems pose privacy risks for all users, especially those who may need to provide biometric data or other sensitive information.

For example, some users protested when YouTube announced plans to use AI to detect users’ ages in the U.S. to protect children. They were concerned about the idea of having to provide an ID or face scan if incorrectly identified as a minor.

In Australia, platforms will be required to delete users’ data after verifying their ages.

Could a Teen Social Media Ban Happen in the U.S.?

While no U.S. state has enacted a law as strict as Australia’s, several states have passed restrictions on teens’ access to social media or other internet services.

Nebraska, for instance, recently signed a bill requiring social media platforms to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before minors can create accounts. The law will go into effect in July 2026.

Utah, Texas, and Louisiana have also passed laws requiring app store operators to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for new downloads and updates. Social media companies, including Meta, support this policy because it shifts responsibility for age verification to app stores. However, Google and Apple argue that it requires them to collect too much information from adult users.

The Supreme Court also upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for pornographic websites, suggesting the court is not necessarily opposed to online age restrictions, despite legal challenges from the adult industry.

Some politicians have proposed even stronger measures. Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff for President Barack Obama, recently suggested that the U.S. should also block children under 16 from social media.

Despite these developments, a federal policy in the U.S. seems unlikely due to Congress's inability to pass broader social media and youth safety legislation. Any such policy would likely face First Amendment challenges.

“Big Tech would fight a national ban with all its lobbying might and the Trump Administration only seems interested in loosening the reins on tech platforms,” said Alex Pascal, executive director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

Still, he said, “the popular tide in America has definitely turned against the platforms, and I would expect to see increasing action by more states before 2030 to tackle the ills of social media for young people.”

How Are Apps Protecting Kids in the U.S.?

Social media companies have already taken steps to protect children in the U.S., often under pressure from advocates and parents. These efforts include features like “take a break” reminders, content restrictions, and parental controls.

More recently, many platforms have begun using AI to determine users’ ages, regardless of the birthdate they provided. Instagram, for example, rolled out “teen accounts” last year, using personal attestations and AI to estimate user ages. This year, it aligned teen account restrictions with PG-13 movie ratings.

YouTube’s move to use AI to guess users’ ages led OpenAI to announce plans to integrate AI age prediction technology into ChatGPT, along with parental controls set to launch next year.

Roblox recently announced that it would require all users to verify their age with an ID or face scan to access chat features, following lawsuits alleging that the platform has enabled sexual predators to connect with children.

These measures could help tech firms avoid additional U.S. regulations or prepare them to comply with new requirements if they are passed. If Australia’s under-16 ban proves successful, tech companies may need to make greater changes in more countries, including the U.S.