Chicago – December 10, 2025
A world-first ban on major social media platforms for children under the age of 16 goes into effect in Australia on Wednesday. And regulators, parents and teenagers around the globe are watching closely to see how it plays out.
The law comes after years of concerns that social media platforms can cause addiction, body image issues, depression and other mental health issues for teens, as well as potentially exposing them to bullying or sexual exploitation.
Two Australian teens have already sued to block the law, claiming it violates their rights to political expression. And other critics have raised free speech and privacy concerns.
Still, Denmark and Malaysia are similarly planning to ban young teens from social media. In the United States, some lawmakers and political leaders have also advocated for more restrictive policies. Which begs the question: Could a social media ban for young teens happen here?
And some have proposed going farther. Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff for President Barack Obama who has indicated he’s considering a 2028 presidential run, said Tuesday that the United States should also block children under 16 from social media.
Still, a federal policy in the United States seems unlikely, given Congress’ inability to agree on and pass other social media and youth safety-related legislation. Any such policy would also likely face First Amendment challenges.
