Logging Off: Inside Australia’s Landmark Social Media Ban

January 18, 2026

Instead of pulling children off social media altogether, Grantham warns that the ban may just push them into digital spaces with fewer rules and less oversight.

Australia has become the first country to ban children under sixteen from social media, forcing platforms to block millions of young users overnight. Supporters say the move draws a long-overdue line around online harm while critics feel that it could push teens into riskier digital spaces with less oversight. As legal challenges mount and other countries watch closely, we cover what drove the country to implement this hardline policy on social media.

Guests:

Susan Grantham, researcher, lecturer, communication, Griffith University
Terry Flew, professor, digital communication and culture, University of Sydney

The law is already facing two big legal challenges making their way through the courts. One has been filed by a major social media platform affected by the ban and the other comes from two Australian teenagers who argue the legislation infringes on their rights.