Is Social Media Over for Teens? The UK Considers Following Australia’s Landmark Ban

Just one month after Australia made history as the first nation to implement a strict social media ban for under-16s, the impact has been swift and sweeping. Early data reveals a digital landscape in flux, with global tech giants moving rapidly to comply with the world-first legislation.

What happened in Australia in just one month?

The results of the first 30 days have exceeded initial expectations:

• 4.7 Million Accounts Deactivated: Australia’s internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, reported that platforms have removed or restricted approximately 4.7 million accounts suspected of belonging to minors.
• Massive Tech Compliance: Facing fines of up to AU$49.5 million ($33 million) for non-compliance, companies like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat have aggressively purged underage profiles. Meta alone deactivated over 544,000 accounts across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in the initial rollout.
• “A Source of Pride”: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared the ban a success, stating that the early figures show the law is making a “meaningful difference” in protecting children.

Next Stop: The United Kingdom?

The “Australian experiment” is sending shockwaves across Europe. The UK government is now closely monitoring these results, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicating that a similar move is “on the table”.

“All options are on the table… We need to better protect children from social media,” Starmer told reporters in January 2026.

While the UK government previously focused on “age-appropriate design,” the political momentum has shifted. Ministers are now weighing whether to ban under-16s entirely to combat the addictive algorithms linked to rising rates of anxiety and depression among teenagers.

Why does this matter?

The goal is not simply restriction, but the creation of a safer online environment. By removing teenagers from profit-driven recommendation engines, authorities hope to mitigate the harms of cyberbullying, body dysmorphia, and digital addiction.

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