Around the World, Governments Are Banning Social Media for Kids

It feels like just yesterday we were fussing over the newest app trend, and now a whole handful of governments are actually telling kids they can’t sign up. The idea of a social‑media ban for minors started small, but it’s spreading fast.

Australia led the charge in December 2025, becoming the world’s first country to legislate a ban for anyone under 16. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act forces platforms – TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, Snapchat and the like – to verify age and take “reasonable steps” to stop kids from opening accounts. A July 2026 government review, however, says the measure isn’t really working, and even Reddit has filed a lawsuit over the new rules.

Austria followed in March 2026 with a draft law aimed at children under 14. The proposal not only blocks account creation but also adds a compulsory school subject called “Media and Democracy,” teaching youngsters to spot disinformation and radicalisation.

Brazil introduced its Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents in March 2026. Kids under 16 must link any social‑media profile to a legal guardian, and platforms are required to verify ages for anyone trying to view adult content. The law also bans features that are designed to keep youths scrolling forever, such as auto‑play videos.

Canada announced the Safe Social Media Act on June 11 2026. If passed, anyone under 16 would need age verification to use services like TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, and the same rules would extend to AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude.

Denmark earmarked a ban for under‑15s in an October 2025 announcement by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The legislation is expected in 2026, though parents may be allowed to give permission from age 13 onward.

European Union is considering a bloc‑wide restriction for kids under 13, unveiled by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 13 2026. The plan would require age‑appropriate safeguards across social media, AI companions, video‑sharing services and even some video games.

France is set to become the first European nation to actually enforce a ban. A compromise reached on July 20 2026 will prevent anyone under 15 from opening new accounts after 1 September, and existing accounts will have to be deactivated by January 2027.

Germany hasn’t signed anything yet, but the federal government is openly debating a similar age‑limit measure.

Greece announced on April 8 2026 that it will bar under‑15s from social media starting 1 January 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that sleep problems and anxiety are rising as children feel pressured to stay online 24/7.

Indonesia moved quickly in March 2026, ordering any “high‑risk” platform – YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox – to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 by the end of that month.

Malaysia has also joined the trend, passing legislation that bans under‑16s from using major social platforms, though the exact enforcement date is still being ironed out.

All these moves share a common thread: governments are trying to protect children from cyber‑bullying, self‑harm, addictive design and exposure to violent or pornographic content. Critics, however, argue the bans are hard to enforce, may infringe on digital privacy and free speech, and that savvy kids will simply find work‑arounds.

What’s clear is that the conversation isn’t going away. Whether the bans prove effective or simply push the problem underground, the world is watching, and the next country on the list could be just around the corner.