When Stephen Scheeler became Facebook’s Australia chief in the early 2010s, he shared the era’s heady optimism about social media. He believed it would democratize learning, foster global connection, and empower users to build their own public squares.
But by the time he left in 2017, doubt had begun to set in. “There’s lots of good things about these platforms, but there’s just too much bad stuff,” he told the BBC.
His shift reflects a broader, global reckoning with the impact of social media—especially on teenagers. As concerns about youth mental health, safety, and exploitation grow, governments from Utah to the European Union have begun experimenting with restrictions. Now, Australia is taking the most radical step yet: a nationwide ban on social media for users under 16, effective December 10.
The new law requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to keep children off their services, leaving tech giants scrambling to comply—or challenge—a policy they have loudly opposed for the past year.
Industry groups argue the ban amounts to censorship, makes children less safe, and infringes on their rights. “Australia is engaged in blanket censorship that will make its youth less informed, less connected, and less equipped to navigate the spaces they will be expected to understand as adults,” said Paul Taske of NetChoice, which represents several major tech firms.
Behind the protests lies a deeper anxiety: that Australia’s ban could set a precedent. “It could become a proof of concept that gains traction around the world,” says Nate Fast, a professor at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.
The coming weeks will test not only the enforceability of the world’s first under-16 social media ban but also the resilience of an industry facing its most significant regulatory challenge to date.
By James Kisoo
