Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Australia's landmark decision to enforce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16. During his visit to Australia for the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit, Modi remarked, "We are learning from you," referring to the restrictive law.
Australia's Landmark Social Media Ban
Australia made headlines as the first country globally to implement a comprehensive ban on social media for minors under 16 years of age. This legislation mandates that platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, Kick, Twitch, TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube must prevent access to their services by users below the specified age.
The primary objective of Australia's social media ban is to safeguard young individuals from detrimental online content and mitigate the adverse effects of social media on children's mental well-being. While parents and children are not penalized for breaches, technology companies face substantial fines for non-compliance. Initially set at up to AU$32 million, penalties have since been increased to a maximum of AU$99 million, following concerns over continued access by minors despite the restrictions. The updated legislation also empowers Australia's eSafety Commissioner to demand evidence from social media firms regarding their compliance efforts.
The ban, officially in effect for major platforms since December 10, 2025, has garnered significant international attention. Countries like the United Kingdom have announced intentions to introduce similar restrictions, with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicating a comparable ban for under-16s could be implemented by spring 2027.
AustralianSuper Boosts India Investment
Coinciding with Prime Minister Modi's visit, Australia's largest pension fund, AustralianSuper, announced a substantial additional investment of AU$500 million into India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). This latest commitment elevates AustralianSuper's total investments in India across various asset classes to AU$3.3 billion, building on an initial AU$240 million investment in NIIF made in 2019.
Prime Minister Modi hailed the announcement as "yet another glimpse of the global confidence in India's growth and reform trajectory." AustralianSuper Chief Executive Paul Schroder is expected to highlight this investment during the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit. Shaun Manuell, AustralianSuper's Chief Investment Officer, noted the NIIF partnership has yielded strong returns, prompting the renewed investment.
Manuell emphasized that India's robust economic growth, expanding middle class, and government initiatives to facilitate capital deployment for institutional investors have significantly enhanced the country's appeal to global investors. He stated, "AustralianSuper is making a second investment in the NIIF because those fundamental strengths are still there and we see the potential for more returns for members." The fund's experience underscores the potential of long-term capital, supportive policies, trusted institutions, and strong partnerships in achieving investment success.