TL;DR
Australia enacted a law in 2025 that sets 16 as the minimum age for social media accounts, prompting international interest. Authors Jon Haidt and Ravi Iyer argue 16 (not 15) and reject parental-consent exceptions, citing puberty, brain development, enforcement simplicity and social norms.
What happened
In 2025 Australia passed a social media age-limit law that raises the minimum age to 16 for opening or maintaining accounts. The move generated attention from parents, journalists and political leaders worldwide and prompted debate about whether other countries should follow. Jon Haidt and Ravi Iyer lay out reasons for adopting 16 as the baseline: puberty and adolescent brain development make mid-adolescence a uniquely sensitive period; many teens already spend hours daily on social platforms; and a one-year difference (15 vs. 16) matters because a large share of adolescents remain in puberty at 15. They also argue that parental-consent carve-outs undermine collective action by reintroducing peer-pressure dynamics, and that simple, uniform national rules are easier for platforms to enforce than a patchwork of varied laws. The authors propose a set of policy features modeled in part on recently promoted phone-free school principles.
Why it matters
- Puberty is described as a sensitive developmental window during which repeated experiences can produce lasting neural changes.
- A higher age limit aims to reduce exposure to content and interactions that authors link to risks for mental health and safety during adolescence.
- Uniform national rules would be easier for social platforms and regulators to implement than varying local laws.
- Parental-consent exceptions may recreate peer-pressure dynamics and weaken collective effectiveness.
Key facts
- Australia enacted a social media age-limit law in 2025 setting the minimum age at 16.
- Authors Haidt and Iyer argue 16 is preferable to 15 and recommend no parental-consent exceptions.
- Puberty in modern developed nations typically begins between about 8–13 for girls and a year or two later for boys, according to the article.
- Median girls reach the final Tanner stage of genital development between about 15 and 16; median boys reach it around 16–17, per the piece.
- The average adolescent in the U.S. now spends roughly five hours a day using social media, the authors say.
- A 2022 paper cited found peak sensitivity to social media for boys at ages 14–15 and for girls at ages 11–13.
- Parental-consent exceptions are described as likely to reintroduce a collective action problem where most families feel compelled to permit accounts.
- Simple uniform laws are framed as easier to understand, enforce, and for platforms to implement than complex, varying rules.
- The authors reference prior work promoting five principles for phone-free school policies developed in early 2025.
What to watch next
- Whether other countries follow Australia’s lead and adopt a 16+ minimum for accounts.
- Debate in jurisdictions (for example, France) considering 15 as an alternative age.
- Whether national proposals include parental-consent exceptions or strict uniform limits.
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Puberty: The biological process of physical and hormonal changes during adolescence that leads to sexual maturity.
- Tanner stages: A scale describing physical development during puberty across several stages from early changes to full maturation.
- Collective action trap: A situation where individuals make suboptimal choices because each worries that acting differently would leave them worse off compared with others.
- Parental consent: A legal allowance for parents to authorize their child’s participation in an activity that would otherwise be age-restricted.
Reader FAQ
Why do the authors prefer 16 rather than 15?
They argue many adolescents remain in puberty at 15, and the additional year reduces exposure during a sensitive developmental window.
Do the authors support parental-consent exceptions for younger teens?
No; the authors contend parental-consent carve-outs would recreate peer-pressure dynamics and diminish collective protection.
Will a national age limit stop all underage use?
not confirmed in the source
Are platforms obliged to enforce a 16+ rule under the proposals?
not confirmed in the source
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Sources
- Why Every Country Should Set 16 as the Minimum Age for Social Media Accounts
- Why are there so many countries, including Australia, UK, Malaysia, and …
- Too young to scroll? Why governments are cracking down …
- Should There By Social Media Age Restrictions?
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