Australia has become the first nation to prohibit children under the age of sixteen from accessing social media, a development that is prompting serious consideration in South Africa. The Australian government’s decision, effective from 10 December, compels ten major digital platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X to block underage users or face fines exceeding R550 million.
The reform has been welcomed by child-safety advocates and parents who view it as a necessary protection against the risks of digital addiction, data exploitation and mental health challenges. However, major technology companies and free-expression advocates have raised concerns over potential overreach and the practical difficulties of enforcement.
In South Africa, legal and policy experts are closely watching the implications of this landmark move. Social media lawyer Lerato Ntwampe stated that discussions with local regulators have already begun, confirming that the issue of child safety on social media platforms has become a matter of national importance. “We want immediate action and policy intervention to prioritise child protection across all digital platforms operating in South Africa,” she said.
Ntwampe emphasised that Australia’s approach, which avoids penalising parents, is particularly important. She noted that the primary responsibility must fall on technology companies, not on households already burdened with limited digital literacy and time constraints. “There will be no penalties for parents,” she explained. “But there will certainly be penalties and pressure for social media companies that fail to act responsibly.”
The lawyer argued that many platforms already possess the technical means to verify users’ ages accurately, yet do not implement such systems because young users represent lucrative advertising markets. “Children are being drawn into digital spaces designed to keep them online. Their information is harvested, they are targeted with addictive algorithms, and they experience psychological strain as a result,” Ntwampe added. She further noted that young people cannot fully understand the complex contractual relationship they enter when creating online accounts, a process that involves surrendering their personal data.
Critics of such bans contend that strict restrictions could drive children towards less regulated online environments. However, Ntwampe dismissed this as a reason for inaction, arguing that policy reform must focus on reshaping online environments rather than abandoning them.
Kate Farina, Head of Strategy at Smartphone Free Childhood South Africa, described the Australian decision as a turning point in global digital policy. “This is a significant moment,” she said. “Australia’s decision to prevent under-16s from using social media marks a fundamental shift in how governments perceive corporate accountability in digital spaces.”
Farina highlighted that technology firms now face potential fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately R550 million) if they fail to delete underage accounts or prevent the creation of new ones. “Governments are finally saying enough is enough,” she noted. “Responsibility should rest with technology companies, not parents or children. Parents, educators and civil society groups have been calling for these safety measures for over a decade.”
She added that South Africa, where children often gain access to smartphones at younger ages than in many Western countries, should consider similar action. The European Union is reportedly reviewing related measures, while several US states are engaged in policy debates over youth social media regulation.
Farina acknowledged that bans may not eliminate all workarounds, such as virtual private networks or fake accounts, but maintained that they could trigger an essential cultural shift. “Even partial regulation can encourage children to live more of their lives offline and reclaim healthier patterns of social engagement,” she said.
She clarified that her organisation is not opposed to technology but rather advocates for delayed access to social media and internet-connected smartphones. “Basic mobile phones allow communication without exposing young users to the risks of algorithmic manipulation or harmful online communities,” she explained. Smartphone Free Childhood South Africa advises delaying smartphone ownership until high school and social media access until at least age sixteen.
The debate in South Africa now centres on how to balance child protection with digital rights and access. The conversation reveals a growing recognition that African societies must develop contextually grounded digital policies that reflect their own realities, rather than merely replicating Western approaches. While the Australian precedent offers a model, experts emphasise that South African policymakers should craft an approach that acknowledges local socio-economic diversity and the region’s unique technological landscape.
As governments around the world grapple with the question of children’s digital safety, South Africa’s engagement with this issue represents a significant step towards an African-centred digital ethics framework. It raises broader questions about accountability, data justice and the responsibilities of global corporations operating within African digital spaces.
