Social media for children: Who wants which age limits?
Updated 7 October 2026
eSafety Commissioner (Australia) · Independent access from 13
Since 10 December 2025, covered platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts, so independent access from 13 is rejected.
eSafety Commissioner (Australia) · Parent-managed access at 13–14
Australia’s regime is an account-age restriction for covered social-media platforms; under-16 users cannot hold those accounts simply because a parent approves.
eSafety Commissioner (Australia) · No independent access under 16
The law requires covered platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from holding accounts.
eSafety Commissioner (Australia) · Target safeguards, not all access
The regime distinguishes covered from excluded services, but for platforms classed as age-restricted social media it relies on a categorical under-16 account rule rather than permitting younger users through a safeguards-only model.
Malaysia Ministry of Communications · Independent access from 13
Under the Child Protection Code, licensed social-media providers must enforce a minimum age of 16 for account registration and ownership.
Malaysia Ministry of Communications · Parent-managed access at 13–14
The communications minister said under-16s may use social media via accounts managed by parents on their behalf; the later Child Protection Code clearly bars under-16s from opening or holding their own accounts. The exact scope of the parent-managed route is therefore narrower and not fully specified in the code summary.
Malaysia Ministry of Communications · No independent access under 16
Malaysia’s Child Protection Code requires age verification and does not permit people under 16 to open or maintain their own social-media accounts.
Malaysia Ministry of Communications · Target safeguards, not all access
Officials describe the framework as regulation rather than a total ban: under-16s cannot hold their own accounts, while the wider child-protection regime also imposes safety-by-design and risk controls. This is a hybrid rather than a safeguards-only approach.
European Commission · Independent access from 13
Its September 2026 KIDS Act proposal sets autonomous account creation at 15, with younger teenagers limited to a parent-managed model.
European Commission · Parent-managed access at 13–14
The KIDS Act proposes guardian-created mini accounts for 13- and 14-year-olds with limited features, parental controls and time limits.
European Commission · No independent access under 16
The Commission’s proposed EU-wide threshold for an autonomous social-media account is 15.
European Commission · Target safeguards, not all access
Rather than excluding everyone under 16, the proposal allows tightly controlled access at 13–14 and autonomous access from 15, while imposing restrictions on addictive design, contacts and recommender systems.
European Parliament · Independent access from 13
Its adopted position sets 16 as the default digital majority and allows access from 13 to 15 only with parental or guardian authorisation.
European Parliament · Parent-managed access at 13–14
Parliament calls for a 16-year default threshold while explicitly allowing 13- to 15-year-olds to access social media with parental consent.
European Parliament · No independent access under 16
Parliament’s non-legislative position proposes 16 as the harmonised EU digital majority, with younger teenagers requiring parental authorisation.
European Parliament · Target safeguards, not all access
Its position does not exclude all under-16s: 13- to 15-year-olds could access with parental consent, alongside proposals to disable or ban addictive and engagement-based features for minors.
Meta · Independent access from 13
Meta says users must be at least 13 for Instagram and Facebook and automatically places teenagers into age-appropriate protections.
Meta · Parent-managed access at 13–14
Teenagers can hold their own accounts from 13; parental permission is required for some relaxation of protections, not for the basic right to hold an account.
Meta · No independent access under 16
Outside jurisdictions that impose higher legal limits, Meta permits teen accounts from age 13 and applies built-in safeguards to younger teens.
Meta · Target safeguards, not all access
Meta says broad bans can create unintended consequences and advocates centralised age verification and parental approval at the app-store or device level, combined with age-appropriate product protections.
TikTok · Independent access from 13
TikTok states that the minimum age to use the service is 13 and then applies age-tiered restrictions to teen accounts.
TikTok · Parent-managed access at 13–14
Users can hold their own accounts from 13; Family Pairing and other parental tools supplement, rather than replace, the teen’s account.
TikTok · No independent access under 16
Its standard model allows 13- to 15-year-olds to hold accounts with stronger privacy and feature restrictions, unless local law sets a higher threshold.
TikTok · Target safeguards, not all access
Teen accounts receive more than 50 preset safety, privacy and security measures, including feature limits for younger teens, while account access generally starts at 13.
UNICEF · No independent access under 16
UNICEF recognises legitimate safety concerns behind age restrictions but warns that social-media bans can backfire and does not prescribe 16 as a universal minimum age.
UNICEF · Target safeguards, not all access
It argues that children also need safer platform design, corporate accountability, rights-respecting age assurance and protections that preserve beneficial access, especially for isolated or marginalised children.
Sander van der Linden · No independent access under 16
He argues against blanket bans as the main response and says governments should prepare teenagers to use digital technology responsibly rather than simply exclude them.
Sander van der Linden · Target safeguards, not all access
His published position is that governments should address online harms without relying on blanket teen bans, emphasising responsible use and evidence-based interventions.
Children and young people · UK consultation · No independent access under 16
The UK Government’s 2026 consultation summary says children tended to favour selective restrictions rather than an across-the-board ban; only 19% supported a minimum age of 16 for all social media.
Children and young people · UK consultation · Target safeguards, not all access
The consultation summary reports a preference among children for restricting particular services or risky functions rather than banning social media altogether; 65% of 16- to 21-year-olds supported restricting at least some engagement-driving features.
Sources
- eSafety Commissioner — Social media 'ban' or delay FAQ ·
- BERNAMA / Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission — CPC Mandates Secure Age Checks For Social Media Platforms - Fahmi ·
- BERNAMA — Under-16s Can Only Use Social Media Via Parent-Managed Accounts, Says Fahmi ·
- BERNAMA — Malaysia Sticks To Regulatory Approach, Not Total Ban On Children's Social Media Use - Fahmi ·
- European Commission — The KIDS Act explained ·
- European Parliament — Children should be at least 16 to access social media, say MEPs ·
- Meta — New AI-Powered Age Assurance Measures to Place Teens in Age-Appropriate Experiences ·
- Meta — Why Social Media Bans Alone Can’t Solve the Age Verification Dilemma ·
- TikTok — Updates to how we enforce age appropriate experiences in Europe ·
- UNICEF — Age restrictions alone won't keep children safe online ·
- Nature Health — Social media bans for teens lack evidence ·
- UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology — Growing up in the online world: progress statement (June 2026) ·
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