USA Today (12/9, Mitchell, Hale) reports, “Starting Dec. 10, Australia is the first country to ban social media for kids under 16.” It is “up to social media companies…to ensure children under 16 aren’t using their platforms, and companies who fail to block kids [from] their sites will face substantial fines.” Under the ban, “there are no penalties for kids who gain access to these platforms, or their parents or caregivers.” Although “the ban is controversial in some circles, many parents and mental health advocates are celebrating – and wondering if something similar could ever be enforced in the United States.” However, “Whitney Raglin Bignall, pediatric psychologist and associate clinical director at The Kids Mental Health Foundation, said she hasn’t seen movement toward a nationwide social media ban in the United States.”
Related Links:
— “Australia is first nation to ban social media for kids. Is the US next?,”Madeline Mitchell & Rachel Hale, USA TODAY, December 9, 2025