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France Seeks Accelerated Under‑15 Social‑Media Ban Ahead of School Year

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Australia’s Under‑16 Ban Takes Effect Across Major Platforms In December 2025 Australia enacted the world’s first comprehensive ban on users under 16 from ten major social‑media services, including Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube, requiring platforms to block new accounts and deactivate existing child profiles [3]. The law imposes fines up to A$49.5 million on firms that fail to implement “reasonable steps” for age‑assurance, shifting liability from parents to the services themselves [3]. Enforcement began with Meta closing roughly 550,000 teen accounts and other providers following suit, while the eSafety Commissioner announced the regulatory framework alongside the ban [2].

Initial Enforcement Yields Millions of Closed Child Accounts Within weeks, Australian authorities reported that 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to minors were shut down, a figure the government hailed as a “huge success” [2]. Industry representatives described compliance as “kicking and screaming,” yet data from the eSafety office show no lasting surge in downloads of alternative apps among under‑16 users [2]. Critics continue to warn that the required age‑verification data could be misused, despite safeguards mandating its destruction after verification [3].

France Accelerates Legislation Mirroring Australian Model President Emmanuel Macron announced on 25 January that he will seek a fast‑track parliamentary process to prohibit social‑media use for children under 15 before the new school year begins in September [1]. The proposal also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools and calls for strict enforcement of the EU Digital Services Act to compel platforms to verify users’ ages more rigorously [1]. Macron framed the move as a response to the Australian experience, arguing that early restrictions can curb the mental‑health harms highlighted in recent studies [1].

UK Opens Consultation on Under‑16 Ban After Australian Example The British government launched a three‑month public consultation on a potential under‑16 social‑media ban, citing Australia’s December 2025 restrictions as a catalyst for the review [4]. The plan would give Ofsted powers to audit school phone‑use policies and encourage “phone‑free by default” classrooms while gathering input from parents, youth and civil‑society groups [4]. Labour MPs and child‑welfare advocates have voiced strong support, whereas Conservative leaders and some education unions caution against blanket bans without clear evidence of effectiveness [4].

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Timeline

Nov 2024 – The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill passes Parliament, establishing a 16‑year minimum age for major social‑media platforms and authorising fines of up to A$49.5 million for non‑compliance [16].

Nov 20, 2025 – Australia becomes the first country to impose a nationwide under‑16 ban on ten major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and X; the law requires “reasonable steps” to block under‑16 users and targets platforms, not children or parents, with heavy penalties [2].

Dec 4, 2025 – Meta notifies 13‑15‑year‑old users that their Instagram, Facebook and Threads accounts will be deactivated on Dec 10, offering a download window and a review process involving video selfies or ID [12].

Dec 6, 2025 – Thirteen‑year‑old Isobel demonstrates a loophole by using a photo of her mother to pass Snapchat’s simulated age‑check in minutes, highlighting the ease of circumvention [10].

Dec 8, 2025 – The eSafety Commissioner announces that the ban will take effect at midnight on Dec 10, requiring the ten listed platforms to block or delete under‑16 accounts and warning that messaging apps remain exempt [8][20].

Dec 9, 2025 – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls the rollout a “proud day” as platforms begin enforcement; Meta reports blocking roughly 550,000 accounts in the first week and warns the ban could push teens toward less‑regulated apps such as Lemon8 and Yope [17][4][19].

Dec 10, 2025 – The ban goes live nationwide; over 200,000 TikTok accounts are already removed, and outback teen Breanna Easton loses contact with distant friends, illustrating the law’s immediate social impact [13][15].

Dec 11, 2025 – Denmark’s coalition agrees to a ban on users under 15, citing Australia’s A$49.5 million fine regime as a model for its own “digital evidence” age‑certificate system [14].

Dec 12, 2025 – Reddit files a High Court challenge, arguing the ban infringes the implied freedom of political communication, while the eSafety Commissioner issues compulsory information notices to all ten platforms [7]; simultaneously, Australia’s ban explicitly excludes gaming services such as Discord and Roblox, prompting those firms to roll out age‑verification tools [5].

Dec 13, 2025 – The government reiterates that platforms face fines up to A$49.5 million for breaches and publishes data on facial‑recognition error rates (8.5 % false‑rejection for 16‑year‑olds), fueling privacy debates [16].

Jan 12, 2026 – Meta confirms it has blocked about 550,000 Australian accounts in the first days after the law’s enforcement, providing a concrete compliance figure for regulators [4].

Jan 16, 2026 – The eSafety office reports that 4.7 million child accounts have been deactivated across the ten platforms; Communications Minister Anika Wells says the result “gives parents confidence that their children’s online time is safer” [11].

Jan 19, 2026 – The UK launches a three‑month public consultation on an under‑16 ban, explicitly referencing Australia’s December 2025 rollout as a precedent and proposing new Ofsted powers over school phone policies [3].

Jan 23, 2026 – eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant tells the BBC that platforms are complying “kicking and screaming,” notes that no sustained migration to alternative apps is observed, and highlights ongoing cooperation with the UK to block terrorist‑violent content for children [1].

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