‘Grossly disproportionate’ and ‘discriminatory’ – why Australia’s social media ban risks creating more problems than it solves

Australia’s social media “ban” has come into effect today – Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – and it sees the social media accounts of thousands of children shut down.

The bill – titled the “Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024” – aims to protect those under the age of 16 from the “pressures and risks” of social media.

However, critics argue the ban may also negatively impact children’s online privacy and cybersecurity. There will be attempts to stop children from using one of…