Australia has taken another big step in enforcing its world-first online safety law for children. On December 11, 2025, authorities in Australia asked the world’s largest social media companies to report how many accounts for children under 16 have been deactivated since the new ban became law. CityNews Halifax

The law, which took effect on December 10, requires platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and Reddit to ensure that children younger than 16 no longer have active accounts. Officials want the tech companies to show how many accounts they had for under-16 users before the ban, and how many accounts remain now — to prove the rules are being followed. CityNews Halifax

Under the supervision of the eSafety Commissioner, the companies must provide this information within a short time. The Commissioner is expected to publish monthly updates over the next six months to show progress in cleaning up under-age accounts. If a company fails to act, it could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $32.9 million). CityNews Halifax

Australia’s Communications Minister said this enforcement is important to protect kids from harmful content, harassment, and addictive algorithms that many children face online. Countries in Europe and Southeast Asia are also watching closely, with some considering similar protections for young users. CityNews Halifax

For kids reading this: even if you live far from Australia, this story shows how governments and technology companies are trying to make online spaces safer for children everywhere. Social media can be fun, but it also involves serious questions about privacy, age, and safety — and laws like these aim to help families keep kids protected.

In short: Australian authorities are now demanding that major social media platforms report how many under-16 accounts they have removed since the new ban began — a key test of the world’s first law limiting kids’ access to social media. CityNews Halifax

Learning takeaway: Rules about technology matter — they show how laws can help protect young people online while raising questions about how the internet should be used safely.

Bonus trends today:

• Many schools in India are on holiday for local elections and winter conditions, so students are checking whether their school will remain closed. The Economic Times

• Around 13,000 children participated in the Amaravati Balotsavam competitions with cultural, art and academic events underway. The Times of India

• The Falkland Islands are holding an important local election on December 11, 2025 as part of the global election calendar. Wikipedia

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