智通财经网·2025-12-01 01:37Core Points - Australia is set to become the first democratic country to legislate a ban on social media accounts for users under 16, effective December 10, with fines up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately USD 32 million) for non-compliance [1] - This legislative move is expected to influence other countries to adopt similar regulations, as governments worldwide are increasingly concerned about the impact of social media on youth [1] - The global social media industry, projected to generate over USD 245 billion in revenue this year from more than 4 billion users, may face significant challenges due to restrictions on youth access [1] Regulatory Developments - Australia: Ban on accounts for under-16s starts December 10 [3] - Brazil: Under-16s accounts must be linked to legal guardians from March [3] - Denmark: Lawmakers agreed to limit access for those under 15, pending legislation [3] - European Union: Minimum age of 16 voted in favor, with parental consent required for 13- to 15-year-olds [3] - France: President Macron advocates for an under-15s ban [3] - Indonesia: Under-18s will need parental approval [3] - Malaysia: Plans to ban under-16s in 2026 [3] - New Zealand: Plans to introduce a law to ban under-16s this term [3] - Singapore: Considering minimum age limits and engaging with Australia on the matter [3] Industry Reactions - Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and ByteDance (owner of TikTok) have stated they will comply with the new law but raised concerns about the difficulty of enforcing age restrictions [2] - Snap and YouTube are attempting to navigate the definition of "social media platform" to avoid compliance, although Snap has committed to following the new law [2] - Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of age verification technologies and the potential for youth to circumvent restrictions [5][6] Social Implications - The legislation is driven by concerns over the mental health crisis among youth due to excessive social media use, as highlighted in Jonathan Haidt's book "The Coddling of the American Mind" [5] - Advocates for the legislation argue it is necessary to protect vulnerable youth, while critics warn it may isolate marginalized groups and push them to more dangerous online spaces [5] - The effectiveness of the law in addressing harmful content rather than access methods has been questioned by mental health advocates [5][6]