Democratic Education in a Tempest
In December 2025, Australia will become the first democracy to impose a blanket minimum age for social media.
Under the new Social Media Minimum Age Act (SMMA), platforms must demonstrate they’ve taken “reasonable steps” to prevent age-restricted users from having an account.
Unlike privacy rules in the U.S. or youth screen-time limits in China, the SMMA is the first law worldwide to impose an outright minimum-age ban across platforms.
The Australian social media ban exemplifies a troubling global trend: governments across democracies are asserting greater control over what students may read, study, or debate – whether through curriculum directives, book bans, or online restrictions.
From restrictions on
anti-capitalist materialsprohibited in UK classrooms, political and cultural disagreements are increasingly scripting what students can access.
Author's summary: Australia imposes minimum age for social media.
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