Nov 2024 – Australia passes the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, establishing a 16‑year minimum age for major social‑media platforms and authorising fines up to A$49.5 million, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying the law “puts families back in control” and answers “parents’ pleas”[7].

1 Dec 2025 – Communications Minister Anika Wells tells the BBC she “is not intimidated by tech companies” and will enforce the new age‑limit despite industry push‑back[12].

4 Dec 2025 – Meta notifies users aged 13‑15 that their Instagram, Facebook and Threads accounts will be deactivated, projecting the removal of roughly 150 000 Facebook and 350 000 Instagram profiles and offering a download window before shutdown[11].

8 Dec 2025 – eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant announces that, from midnight on 10 Dec, ten platforms must block or delete under‑16 accounts or face penalties, and that compliance monitoring will begin immediately[28].

9 Dec 2025 – Australia becomes the world’s first nation to ban under‑16s from major social media; most platforms pledge compliance, while Elon Musk’s X declares it will “not comply” and calls the measure “a backdoor way to control access to the internet”[25][28].

10 Dec 2025 – The ban takes effect nationwide: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X and six other services block new sign‑ups and deactivate existing under‑16 accounts, with fines of up to A$49.5 million for breaches; Albanese frames the step as “a turning point” for protecting children’s mental health[22][15][23][24].

11 Dec 2025 – Denmark’s coalition agrees to prohibit social‑media use for anyone under 15, with possible parental exceptions at 13, and plans to launch a digital‑evidence app in spring 2026 to enforce the rule[21].

12 Dec 2025 – Reddit files a High Court challenge, arguing the Australian ban infringes the implied freedom of political communication, while simultaneously stating it will comply with the regulator’s notices[20].

12 Dec 2025 – Meta reports that it has blocked about 550 000 Australian accounts under the new law, urging the government to shift age‑verification to app‑store level and to allow parental exemptions[5].

12 Jan 2026 – Meta reiterates that roughly 550 000 teen accounts have been removed and calls for “app‑store age checks” and parental‑approval mechanisms to reduce evasion[5].

16 Jan 2026 – eSafety releases its first tally, confirming 4.7 million child accounts have been deactivated since the ban; Minister Wells says the result “gives parents confidence that their children’s online time is safer”[19].

20 Jan 2026 – The UK launches a three‑month public consultation on an under‑16 social‑media ban, granting Ofsted new powers to audit school phone policies and citing Australia’s December 2025 ban as a catalyst[4].

23 Jan 2026 – eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant tells the BBC that platforms are complying “kicking and screaming,” noting that regulators have issued information notices to the ten listed services[2].

25 Jan 2026 – French President Emmanuel Macron announces a fast‑track legislative process to ban under‑15 social‑media use before the September 2026 school year, referencing Australia’s December 2025 ban as a precedent[13].

5 Feb 2026 – Indian states Andhra Pradesh and Goa launch ministerial panels and consultations with Meta, X, Google and ShareChat on a possible nationwide under‑16 ban; IT Minister Nara Lokesh warns children are “slipping into relentless usage,” harming attention and education[1].

Planned/expected: Apr 2026 – The UK’s three‑month consultation is slated to close, after which the government will decide whether to legislate an under‑16 ban.

Mid‑2026 – Denmark aims to roll out its digital‑evidence age‑certificate app and enforce the under‑15 ban, following the Australian model[21].

Sep 2026 – France intends to have its under‑15 ban in force before the new school year, completing the fast‑track process announced in January[13].

2026‑2028 – Australia will conduct a two‑year review of the under‑16 ban, assessing impacts on sleep, mental health and online safety, with findings to inform possible policy adjustments[12].