Australia is set to become the first country to ban social media use for under-16s starting December, urging platforms to adopt “minimally invasive” age verification methods. The country’s Internet watchdog, eSafety, recommends using AI and behavioral data to infer users’ ages without widespread intrusive checks, ensuring adults face minimal disruption. The ban, extended recently to include YouTube, aims to protect teens amid growing concerns about social media’s impact on mental health. With 95% of 13- to 15-year-olds already on social media, the law requires companies to deactivate underage accounts by December 10, prevent re-registration, and provide accessible complaint mechanisms. Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells stressed the need for “reasonable steps” by tech firms to enforce the new rules and safeguard young users.