India, Dec. 11 -- As of Wednesday, 10 December 2025, Australia has become the first country in the world to prohibit children under the age of sixteen from accessing social media platforms, including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube, and Meta's Instagram and Facebook. Under the new law, major platforms must block under-age users or face fines of up to49.5 million Australian Dollars (USD33 million). The measure has been welcomed by parents and child-safety advocates but strongly criticised by technology companies and free-speech campaigners.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as a "historic measure to protect families", arguing that the government could no longer rely on platforms to introduce adequate safeguards voluntarily.

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