Australia launched its groundbreaking social media ban for children under 16 on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. This world-first legislation requires major platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 years old. Moreover, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described this move as families taking back power from tech giants.

Affected Platforms and Penalties

Ten major platforms now face strict age restrictions. Consequently, these companies must verify user ages and remove underage accounts. Otherwise, they risk massive fines.

However, several platforms remain exempt from the ban. These include Roblox, Discord, WhatsApp, YouTube Kids, and Messenger. Additionally, the government considers these platforms “low risk” for children.

The federal government’s long social media ban for children under 16 is now in effect.

Here are are the platforms and apps that children can and cannot access in Australia from today.

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— SBS News (@SBSNews) December 9, 2025

How Age Verification Works?

Different platforms use various methods to verify ages. For instance, TikTok combines technology with human moderation. Similarly, Snapchat tracks user behavior alongside birth dates. Furthermore, Meta uses facial recognition through a tool called Yoti. Meanwhile, Reddit employs age prediction models.

If platforms mistakenly identify someone as underage, users can appeal. Therefore, they must provide government IDs or undergo facial recognition checks to prove their age.

Implementation Challenges

Despite the law’s intentions, some children have already found workarounds. Specifically, reports show kids drawing facial hair to fool age verification systems. Additionally, older siblings help younger users bypass restrictions. Nevertheless, Communications Minister Anika Wells warned these tactics won’t work forever.

“These platforms have so much data on users,” Wells explained. “Even if children avoid detection today, platforms will eventually catch them through routine checks.”

Already, TikTok has deactivated over 200,000 Australian accounts. Still, enforcement remains challenging during these early stages.

Public Response

Public opinion strongly supports this reform. Indeed, polls show two-thirds of Australian voters back the ban. Furthermore, parents whose children suffered from online harm praised the legislation. Wayne Holdsworth, whose son died from an online sextortion scam, called it an important start.

However, not everyone celebrates the change. Simone Clements explained how the ban affects her 15-year-old twins, who work as entertainers. Their social media presence serves as their portfolio and income source. Therefore, the ban creates financial consequences for young performers.

Global Influence

Several countries now closely watch Australia’s experiment. Notably, Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway plan to introduce similar bans. Meanwhile, the European Union is considering adopting comparable regulations.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will monitor platform compliance. She plans to release preliminary results before Christmas. After that, a legal review will take place approximately 2 years later.

The social media ban for children under 16 represents a bold step toward protecting young Australians online. While implementation challenges exist, supporters believe this reform will change lives worldwide.

The US Federal Reserve cuts rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. This decision brings the benchmark interest rate to 3.50%-3.75%. Furthermore, this marks the third consecutive rate cut since September 2025. Jerome Powell, the Fed Chairman, led the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) through this two-day policy meeting.

Voting and Decision Details

The voting showed some disagreement among Fed members. Specifically, nine out of 12 members supported the rate cut. However, two members wanted rates to stay unchanged. Meanwhile, one member pushed for a larger 50 basis point cut.

Economic Concerns

Despite the rate cut, several challenges remain. First, inflation stays above the Fed’s 2% target. Additionally, the unemployment rate reached 4.4% in September. The country added only 119,000 jobs during that period. Consequently, the Fed faces pressure from both sides of its dual mandate.

Powell addressed concerns about future rate movements. He clearly stated that rate hikes are not on the table currently. Instead, the Fed will either hold rates steady or cut them further. This depends on the upcoming economic data in 2026.

What’s Next?

The Fed’s new projections suggest cautious optimism. Nevertheless, officials remain divided on the path forward. Some believe the current rate level is appropriate. Others think more cuts may be necessary. Moreover, the unemployment rate could reach 4.5% by the end of 2025.

The Fed also announced plans to buy short-term Treasury securities. This aims to maintain adequate reserve levels in the banking system. Therefore, this move supports overall financial stability.

Global Impact

This decision affects markets worldwide. For instance, India may see changes in foreign investment flows. A weaker US dollar could support emerging markets. However, if the Fed turns more cautious, capital flows might reverse.

US Federal Reserve cuts rates demonstrate the central bank’s commitment to balancing economic growth with price stability. Investors now await the first policy meeting of 2026. Until then, all eyes remain on inflation data and employment reports.