More than 40 countries have now introduced, proposed, or formally reviewed laws restricting children’s access to social media platforms, according to new analysis from safety tech firm Privately SA, as governments worldwide shift from voluntary platform measures toward enforceable age verification requirements.
The global push intensified after Australia became the first nation to implement a comprehensive social media ban for users under 16, with officials reporting that platforms have removed approximately 4.7 million accounts since the law took effect in December. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated the early results, declaring it “a source of Australian pride” that is “now being followed up around the world”.
European Nations Press Forward
France is preparing to follow suit, with President Emmanuel Macron backing legislation that would ban social media for children under 15 by September 2026. The draft legislation would also extend an existing mobile phone ban in primary and middle schools to include high schools. Macron emphasized in his New Year’s Eve address the need to “safeguard our children and adolescents from social networks and screens”.
In Britain, more than 60 Labour MPs signed an open letter on Sunday urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to implement an Australia-style ban, warning that “children are anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning” due to social media’s influence. Starmer has said “all options are on the table,” with the House of Lords expected to vote this week on amendments that would restrict access for those under 16.
Denmark announced in November that it will implement a minimum age of 15 for social media access, becoming the first EU country to establish such a restriction. Norway has also presented draft legislation to prohibit social media platforms from serving users under 15, while New Zealand’s Education and Workforce Select Committee recommended a similar ban in December.
The Age Verification Challenge
The policy shift has moved the debate from whether platforms should verify age to how they can do so without compromising privacy. Privately SA, whose on-device facial age estimation technology performed more than five million checks in 2025, said three of Australia’s ten largest social media platforms have deployed its tools.
“The debate has moved from ‘should platforms verify age?’ to ‘how do they do it?'” said Deepak Tewari, Privately’s CEO. Consumer research commissioned by the firm found only 13% of adults trust online platforms to protect biometric information, while 39% support facial age estimation when it runs entirely on-device.
Malaysia is also set to ban social media for users under 16 starting this year, while the European Parliament has called for an EU-wide minimum age of 16, urging member states to ban engagement-based recommendation systems for minors.
