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   "We're going to be watching really closely"  politicians around the world are   
   taking inspiration from Australia's social media ban   
      
   Date:  Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:40:40 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   As Australia implements its strict age verification regime, worldwide   
   politicians are taking notes. So, which country will be next to kick off    
   teens from social media apps?   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   With Australia's landmark social media restrictions set to come into force in   
   just two days, global policymakers are closely watching Australia.    
      
   Starting from December 10, the likes of Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat,    
   TikTok, YouTube, and others will be required to take "reasonable steps" to   
   prevent under-16s from using their platforms. Fines for failing to do so can   
   reach $49.5 million AUD (approximately $32 million USD).    
      
   Australia isn't the first country to implement mandatory age verification    
   this year. In the UK, for example, social media platforms must verify that   
   users are at least 18 to access certain content deemed "harmful."    
      
   The implemention of age checks has  proven to be anything but bulletproof,   
   with many users in the UK, US, and Europe turning to the best VPN apps as an   
   easy workaround.    
      
   To counter this, platforms in Australia are expected to " stop under-16s from   
   using VPNs " to evade the social media ban, though it's unclear whether they   
   would be effective in the first place.    
      
   What's certain is that the world is watching closely and several governments   
   are already considering similar laws. So, which could be next?   
      
   The UK could replicate it "if it it is successful"   
      
   The government said it wanted to make the UK "the safest place in the world    
   to be online," when it passed the Online Safety Act back in 2023 and banning   
   under-16s from social media platforms may be the next natural development.    
      
    Talking to PoliticsHome , the chair of the Childrens Online Safety All-Party   
   Parliamentary Group (APPG), Joani Reid, praised Australia's upcoming rules    
   and said that the UK might look to replicate "if it is successful and   
   implemented well."    
      
   "We're all going to be watching really, really closely Good on Australia, it   
   sends a really clear message, more than anything, that social media is   
   inappropriate for children," she said, echoing similar stances previously   
   expressed by other MPs.   
      
   A US State-by-state regime -- for now   
      
   Around half of all US states have now implemented some form of age   
   verification following the introduction of Missouris restrictions on adult   
   websites at the end of November. And federal legislation may soon follow,    
   with Congress considering a range of proposals, including controversial rules   
   for App Store age verification .    
      
   Currently, the main federal safeguard is still the Children's Online Privacy   
   Protection Act (COPPA), which prevents companies from collecting data from   
   users under 13 without parental consent.    
      
   Several states have enforced stricter social media laws, most notably   
   Mississippi, where Bluesky withdrew from the market rather than comply.    
   Recent allegations that Meta concealed potential child harm are likely to   
   intensify calls for reform, with Australia's new law expected to serve as a   
   key reference point in upcoming debates.   
      
   EU already considering an Australia-like ban   
      
   The EU has moved beyond just watching Australia's ban; it's laying the   
   groundwork for its own . On November 26, 2025, the European Parliament voted   
   in favor of banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms   
   (483 votes to 92).    
      
   Led by Danish Social Democrat Christel Schaldemose, the resolution calls on   
   the European Commission to remedy Europe's "fragmented approach to age   
   assurance" by establishing consistent verification standards across the bloc.    
      
   On a national level, France, Spain, Germany, and Denmark are already   
   considering new rules for children using social media apps, though most of   
   these proposals still rely heavily on parental consent rather than a hard    
   ban.   
      
   Malaysia wants an under-16 ban in 2026    
      
   Finally, Malaysia has confirmed its plans to ban social media for users under   
   16 starting in 2026, according to recent reports from Al Jazeera .    
      
   Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the government is currently   
   reviewing the verification systems used by Australia and other nations with   
   the aim of establishing a compliance framework "by next year."    
      
   While this specific ban is in its early stages, it aligns with the country's   
   ongoing commitment to address social media harms. Platforms have already    
   faced increased regulation and services with over 8 million users must now   
   hold a valid license to operate.   
      
   What's next?   
      
   While it's too early to determine if Australia's under-16s social media ban    
   is the correct approach, the legislation has definitely caught the attention   
   of global policymakers and is likely to provoke a wave of new laws globally.    
      
   According to the government, that's exactly what it was hoping for. "When   
   youve got Australia, a middle power taking on these global giants  it has   
   helped that we have others in our corner now," Prime Minister Anthony    
   Albanese said, defending his decision to authorize a reported $100,000 trip    
   to New York City for Minister Anika Wells. The delegation's goal was to   
   promote Australias social media ban directly to global leaders at the UN   
   General Assembly.    
      
   However, industry experts remain divided on the potential outcomes of   
   permanently barring children from social media apps. Meanwhile, privacy   
   advocates have repeatedly expressed concerns over the increased data   
   collection required for age assurance.    
      
   These tensions between policymakers and global privacy advocates are expected   
   to continue as Australia and other countries impose similar bans. For now,   
   it's uncertain whether such measures can be implemented while preserving   
   privacy, or if they are destined to spread globally regardless of those   
   concerns.    
      
   We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses.    
   For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms   
   and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and   
   strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone   
   using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming   
   pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future   
   Publishing.    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/were-going-to-be-watching-r   
   eally-closely-politicians-around-the-world-are-taking-inspiration-from-austral   
   ias-social-media-ban   
      
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