Some countries are introducing new rules to limit social media use for children under the age of 16.
Australia already started a ban
Australia introduced a law on December 10, 2025 that prevents children under 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms.
Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch were required to remove accounts belonging to users under 16.
After the law started, about 4.7 million accounts were removed from these platforms in Australia.
Experts say it is still too early to know whether the rule will improve teenagers’ mental health. A study will follow more than 4,000 children and families for two years to understand the impact.
Indonesia plans a similar rule
Indonesia has also announced plans to ban social media accounts for children under 16.
The rule will apply to platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X and Roblox.
Officials say the goal is to protect young people from online risks and harmful content.
Did You Know?
United Nations
Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to use the Internet than the rest of the population, but this generational gap has been slowly narrowing over the last four years. According to the revised estimates, 82 percent of people aged between 15 and 24 used the Internet in 2025
What do teenagers think?
Some teenagers say they have found ways around the ban by creating new accounts or using different apps.
Others say the rule helped them realise how much time they were spending on social media.
Why governments are considering this
Many countries are discussing whether limits on social media could help protect children from problems such as online bullying, harmful content and too much screen time. However, experts say it will take time and careful research to understand whether these bans really make a difference for young people.
