Australia has passed the world's first ban on social media use by children under 16 years old, a law that could hurt platforms like X, TikTok, Snap, Facebook and Instagram.

Australia’s controversial new law barring under-16s from social media is one of the toughest crackdowns yet on platforms including Facebook and TikTok as governments worldwide grasp for ways to protect children from harmful content.

Australia's full legislature has now passed a bill that will soon ban children under the age of 16 from using most social media platforms.