Around the world, governments are making new rules for children and social media. They worry about cyberbullying, harmful videos, addictive design, and the effect on mental health. In November 2025, members of the European Parliament said children should be at least 16 to use social media, and an EU survey found that more than 90% of Europeans wanted urgent action to protect minors online. (europarl.europa.eu)
Australia made the boldest move first. Since December 10, 2025, major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, Reddit, Twitch, and YouTube have had to take reasonable steps to stop Australians under 16 from having accounts. Platforms can face penalties of up to A$49.5 million if they do not follow the rule. But the story is not simple: on March 31, 2026, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said some big platforms still were not doing enough, showing that checking age online is difficult. (esafety.gov.au)
Other countries are following. Indonesia began its new system on March 28, 2026. Under the rule, children under 16 cannot have accounts on “high-risk” platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, Bigo Live, and Roblox. Brazil also started a major law in March 2026. There, under-16 users can use social media only with an account linked to a parent or legal guardian, and platforms must limit addictive tools like infinite scroll and autoplay for minors. (eppid.komdigi.go.id)
In Europe, France, Norway, and Spain are all pushing for stronger limits. France already set 15 as the digital age for joining social networks, though that rule was not applied, and a newer French bill would restrict access for under-15s from September 1, 2026. Norway announced in June 2025 that it was preparing a law to ban social media for children under 15. Spain’s prime minister said on February 3, 2026, that Spain would ban access to digital platforms for children under 16, and Spain has also asked the EU for stronger age checks. (vie-publique.fr)
Some people support these rules, but others worry about privacy, free speech, and whether children will simply move to different apps. Still, one thing is clear: social media rules for children are spreading fast, and many countries now want the internet to feel more like a safe playground and less like a wild street. (apnews.com)










