Australia will ban anyone under sixteen from opening a Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube account from 10 December, becoming the world’s first nation to impose a blanket age‑restriction on major social platforms.

The new law demands that companies take “reasonable steps” to block under‑age sign‑ups, or face fines of up to A$49.5 million for serious breaches, according to the Australian Communications Ministry.

Tech firms have rallied against the policy, arguing it could push children onto unsafe corners of the internet. “Australia is engaged in blanket censorship that will make its youth less informed, less connected and less equipped to navigate the digital world as adults,” said Paul Taske, senior director at NetChoice, a trade group representing big‑tech companies.

Industry worries that the precedent may spark similar bans elsewhere. “It could become a proof‑of‑concept that gains traction around the world,” noted Nate Fast, professor at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.

Former Meta Australia chief Stephen Scheeler, who left the firm in 2017 after a period of optimism, reflected on the shift: “There’s lots of good things about these platforms, but there’s just too much bad stuff,” he told the BBC.

Australia’s move arrives amid mounting whistleblower testimony and lawsuits in the United States alleging that platforms design addictive features for teens and conceal associated harms. In January, a landmark trial will hear claims against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, with founders Mark Zuckerberg and Evan Spiegel ordered to testify.

While the Australian government argues the ban is necessary to protect young minds, critics say it sidesteps parental responsibility. Meta’s public statement to the BBC urged legislation that “empowers parents to approve app downloads and verify age,” rather than imposing a blanket prohibition.

Ghana is watching closely. The Ministry of Communications recently announced a public consultation on a potential age‑verification framework for social media, citing the Australian model as a reference point. Local digital rights group Ghana Digital Rights Forum warned that any regulation must avoid “over‑reach” and ensure that children’s access to educational content is not unduly restricted.

Ghanaian child psychologist Dr. Ama Osei of the University of Ghana added, “Our youth are already vulnerable to online bullying and misinformation; a balanced approach that combines parental guidance with robust platform safeguards is essential.”

Tech giants have already rolled out “teen‑safe” features, such as Instagram’s Teen accounts and YouTube’s AI‑driven age‑estimation tool, but independent studies, including one led by whistleblower Arturo Béjar, find many of these measures ineffective.

As the Australian ban takes effect, the global tech industry faces a pivotal test: whether regulation can meaningfully curb harm without stifling the digital opportunities that connect Ghanaian teens to the wider world.

Stakeholders say the coming weeks will reveal how enforceable the Australian law is, and whether other nations – including Ghana – will adopt similar age‑based restrictions or seek alternative safeguards for their young users.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE