Australia bans social media use for children under 16, and other countries across Europe are adopting or considering similar measures as concerns grow about the effects of social platforms on children’s health and safety. In Australia, the December policy is widely described as the first of its kind globally, with restrictions that block under-16s from major platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube, and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook. The Reuters factbox, carried in part by Al-Monitor, frames these steps as part of a broader regulatory push to limit children’s exposure to social media. The report surveys how governments and companies respond to mounting public and policy attention on risks such as harmful content, online safety, and potential mental health impacts. It highlights that approaches differ by jurisdiction, but they generally involve restricting access by age and strengthening controls around the ability of minors to use or remain on social platforms. The fact pattern presented centers on Australia’s ban and notes that European countries are also moving toward curbs or comparable regulatory frameworks.