Will Australia’s social media ban start a global trend?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 2 December 2025
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On 10 December 2025, Australia will become the first country in the world to ban under-16s from using social media apps. Children will have their accounts deactivated on most platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, and Facebook.
Critics say the ban could push children to unregulated platforms, but prime minister Anthony Albanese argues the new law is to safeguard vulnerable members of society. World leaders are watching with interest.
Politicians from the UK, Denmark, Greece and France have all suggested tighter controls could be coming soon. New Zealand’s government wants tougher rules too, and public debates are also beginning in Japan and Indonesia.
Will Australia’s social media ban start a global trend? We speak to Terry Flew, professor of digital communication and culture at the University of Sydney, Australia; Sonia Livingstone, professor in the department of media and communications at the London School of Economics, United Kingdom; Lisa Given, professor of information sciences at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia and Jessica Galissaire, senior policy researcher at Interface, France
Producer/presenter: Daniel Rosney Researcher: Evie Yabsley Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Sound engineer: James Bradshaw Editor: Tom Bigwood
(Photo: A child looking at a mobile phone. Credit: David Gray/AFP)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.7 | Welcome to the inquiry from the BBC World Service with me, Daniel Rosning. |
| 0:11.1 | One question, four expert witnesses, and an answer. |
| 0:16.4 | September 2025. |
| 0:18.5 | You're the first to give this a try. |
| 0:21.6 | And when your loud critics tell you, I guess this won't work, that can be done, you |
| 0:26.4 | are persistent. |
| 0:28.1 | The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, gives her strongest signal |
| 0:32.9 | yet that children could be banned from accessing social media platforms in the 27 member states of the European Union. |
| 0:41.4 | We in Europe are watching and will be learning from you. |
| 0:45.1 | On the 10th of December 2025, Australia will become the first country to prevent those under 16 from using certain apps, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X and Facebook. |
| 0:57.5 | This only affects me, not the people making this law, not at all. |
| 1:02.4 | Critics argue the ban could push children to unregulated platforms, but Prime Minister |
| 1:07.5 | Anthony Albanese argues this is essential to safeguard vulnerable members of society. |
| 1:13.5 | The safety and mental health of our young people has to be a priority. |
| 1:18.9 | You're taking choices away from young people. |
| 1:22.3 | The results of the country's digital experiment are being watched closely by other world leaders. |
| 1:28.4 | This week on the inquiry, we're asking, will Australia's social media ban start a global trend? |
| 1:37.7 | Part 1. Deactivating a generation. |
| 1:42.0 | Early discussions around restricting Australia's youth from posting, viewing or liking social |
| 1:46.9 | media content began years before the law finally took shape. |
| 1:51.5 | The COVID-19 pandemic had drastically changed the habits of children and teenagers who were |
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