Australia’s social media ban for under-16s takes effect. Kids are split — and so are adults

Australia’s new nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16 has officially kicked in, cutting millions of teens and preteens off from platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook and instantly turning the country into a test case for the rest of the world.

Under the law, which took effect Wednesday local time, social platforms must take reasonable steps to stop under-16s from having accounts or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $33 million).

The requirement applies to age-restricted social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, YouTube and Reddit, and puts the legal responsibility on companies rather than kids or their parents.

Anthony Albanese, the country’s prime minister and his administration h