Brazil To Austraia: World Shifts Towards Social Media Bans For Children
Countries worldwide are increasingly implementing or considering bans on social media for children under 15 or 16. The report details existing laws in nations like Australia, Brazil, and China, alongside upcoming proposals in the EU.
Why it matters
This global trend reflects a significant shift in how governments are approaching digital safety and the mental health of minors.
Lawmakers in France are scheduled to vote on Tuesday to ban social media for under-15s - one of 20 countries worldwide to have proposed or introduced such measures.Five of those countries have restrictions already in force, according to an AFP tally.Here are facts about the measures in different countries.Restrictions In Place Social media has been banned for under-16s in Australia since December 2025.Brazil introduced a law in March requiring platforms to link the accounts of users aged under-16 to those of their parents, while also requiring platforms to verify users' ages.In China, where the internet is tightly regulated by the state, minors' access to social media has been restricted progressively since 2019. Initial measures imposed time limits and curfews on online gaming, before similar restrictions were extended in 2023 to social media and streaming platforms.Indonesia has banned social media for under-16s since March.Malaysia has taken a similar approach, with legislation coming into…
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