Ban on social media use for under-16s — what do parents say about it?

Australia is set to become the first country in the world to ban social media accounts for children under 16, requiring platforms to delete accounts of underage users and prevent new accounts from being created. Many parents like Thawaibah are supporting the move, saying they constantly monitor their children's social media.

Generic image of social networking app Lemon8 displayed on an Apple iPhone smartphone device in Sydney, Wednesday, December 3, 2025. (AAP Image) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / AAPIMAGE

On the other hand, experts are warning that current age verification systems have several weaknesses and that tech-savvy children can easily avoid the ban by using a VPN or older siblings’ ID cards.

The government has made it clear that children or parents will not be punished—all responsibility will lie with social media platforms.

The world is watching the consequences of this law, as many countries are considering following in Australia’s footsteps.

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