In a landmark move for digital child protection, more than 4.7 million social media accounts belonging to users believed to be under 16 have been deactivated, removed, or restricted in Australia. The mass action followed the enforcement of a world-first ban prohibiting children under 16 from holding accounts on major platforms.
Immediate Impact of the Groundbreaking Ban
The ban came into effect on 10 December, targeting ten major social media and content platforms. The eSafety commissioner, Australia's independent regulator for online safety, subsequently requested data from each company to assess compliance with the new law.
The platforms covered include Twitch, Kick, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Snap, X, TikTok, and Reddit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed the staggering preliminary figure of over 4.7 million accounts affected in the ban's initial days, citing data provided by the platforms to the commissioner.
While the government has not provided a full platform-by-platform breakdown due to commercial confidentiality, Meta confirmed it deactivated almost 550,000 accounts across its services Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The figures suggest a significant, albeit initial, effort by the tech giants to adhere to the new regulations.
Political Reactions and Compliance Challenges
Prime Minister Albanese welcomed the early results, stating the data showed platforms were taking steps to prevent underage users from holding accounts. "It's encouraging that social media companies are making meaningful effort to comply with laws and keep kids off their platforms," he said. "Change doesn't happen overnight. But these early signs show it's important we've acted."
Communications Minister Anika Wells echoed this sentiment, noting that eSafety would analyse the data to evaluate individual platforms' compliance. She acknowledged the process was just beginning, saying, "We've said from the beginning that we weren't expecting perfection straight away – but early figures are showing this law is making a real, meaningful difference."
However, the federal opposition criticised the implementation. Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh argued the ban had "fallen flat," claiming many accounts remained active, some initially removed had been reinstated, and age-verification tools were easily bypassed. She also highlighted migration to platforms not initially named in the ban, such as Yope and Lemon8.
Global Context and Future Enforcement
The Australian experiment is being watched closely internationally, with countries like the UK considering similar measures. Interestingly, a new UK study published concurrently found no evidence that heavier social media use increased anxiety or depression symptoms in 11 to 14-year-olds, adding complexity to the debate around such bans.
Enforcement remains dynamic. The Australian government requires all platforms to self-assess if the ban applies to them and has indicated it will approach other services if teens migrate. Some platforms, like the X alternative Bluesky, have proactively implemented age-assurance measures despite not being on the original list.
The coming months will be crucial in determining the long-term effectiveness of Australia's pioneering approach to online safety for minors and whether the initial mass account blocking leads to a sustained reduction in underage social media use.
