Australia's Social Media Law for Under-16s Takes Effect

Australia's Online Safety Amendment Act, which restricts social media platform use for children under 16, officially took effect on December 10, 2025. This legislation was enacted following significant advocacy, including the widespread influence of Jonathan Haidt's book "The Anxious Generation," published two years prior. Haidt's work has been instrumental in raising alarms about excessive teen screentime and has proposed several solutions, such as delaying smartphone acquisition until age 14, implementing school-wide phone bans during school hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.), and limiting social media consumption outside of school, which he terms the "3 p.m. to 3 a.m." period. While the widespread adoption of school phone bans has been observed, and some governments have introduced legislation, the age at which children receive phones remains largely unchanged, with most still acquiring them before age 14. Australia's law represents a significant legislative step, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese articulating the law's intent to encourage children to engage more with the "remarkable world around us" by reducing "doom-scrolling." He stated, "Australians pride ourselves on our beaches and parks, our love of playing sports and socializing with friends. Less doom-scrolling means more chances to spend our precious hours relishing the remarkable world around us." Haidt echoed this sentiment, suggesting that "Kids will get countless hours of their childhoods back to sleep, study, or socialize, and we will all be better off for it." Following Australia's lead, Indonesia and Brazil have also introduced similar legislation. In the United States, twelve states have enacted some form of restriction, though many have faced judicial injunctions. Florida's law, similar in nature to Australia's, is reportedly "sort of" operational. The authors of the article express a desire for the Australian law to succeed, aiming to see teens spend less time online and more time in "real life." However, they acknowledge a degree of skepticism, citing previous attempts in China and South Korea to limit screentime that ultimately proved unsuccessful. To address these concerns and assess the law's efficacy, the Australian government has initiated an evaluation process to monitor its impact and outcomes. The legislation's success will be a critical indicator for other nations considering similar measures to protect young people from the potential negative effects of excessive social media engagement.