Three months into Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, has it been a success?

Australia’s world-first ban on under-16s accessing social media platforms came into affect on 10 December 2025. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

As the UK becomes the latest country to consider following Australia’s lead on a social media ban for teenagers, a question Australians are repeatedly being asked is: how is it going?

“Our data is still minimal,” says Caroline Thain, national clinical adviser with the mental health organisation Headspace. “We’re really waiting for a few more months before we do a deeper dive.”