AUSTRALIA PERSPECTIVE

Australia occupies unique position in this debate: it is the only country worldwide to have already banned social media for under-16s. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, effective December 11, 2025, prohibits access to ten major platforms—Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, X—for under-16s, with penalties reaching 49.5 million Australian dollars (33 million USD) per platform.

Results are spectacular: according to Al Jazeera, platforms revoked access to 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to minors within first month. Meta blocked over 500,000 accounts on its platforms alone before appealing to Australian government to reconsider the ban—an appeal poorly timed in light of California verdict.

Scimex, Australian scientific press service, published expert reactions nuancing the American verdict's impact for Australia: 'in Australia, negligence cases are decided by judge alone, not jury, and a judge might reach a different conclusion.' Nevertheless, experts estimate the verdict 'could make acceptance of laws similar to the Australian Social Media Minimum Age Act far more likely in other countries.'

Australian framing is that of pioneer nation feeling validated by the American verdict. CNBC reaction summarizes dynamics: 'Australia is trying to enforce the first teen social media ban. Governments worldwide are watching.' Reddit launched legal challenge against the law, arguing it is ineffective and limits political discussion—an angle Australian media covered with the no-nonsense pragmatism characterizing them.