Will Australia’s social media ban start a global trend? - The Inquiry
Description
On 10 December 2025, Australia will become the first country in the world to ban under-16s from using social media apps.
Children will have their accounts deactivated on most platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, and Facebook.
Critics say the ban could push children to unregulated platforms, but prime minister Anthony Albanese argues the new law is to safeguard vulnerable members of society.
World leaders are watching with interest.
Politicians from the UK, Denmark, Greece and France have all suggested tighter controls could be coming soon.
New Zealand’s government wants tougher rules too, and public debates are also beginning in Japan and Indonesia.
This week on The Inquiry we’re asking: Will Australia’s social media ban start a global trend?
Contributors:
Terry Flew, Professor of digital communication and culture at the University of Sydney, Australia
Sonia Livingstone, Professor in the department of media and communications at the London School of Economics, United Kingdom
Lisa Given, Professor of information sciences at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia
Jessica Galissaire, senior policy researcher at Interface, France
Presenter and Producer: Daniel Rosney
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey
Technical producer: James Bradshaw
Editor: Tom Bigwood
(Photo credit: David Gray/AFP via Getty Images)
United States
