Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Hits 4.7 Million Accounts

Social media platforms have deactivated nearly 4.7 million accounts belonging to Australian users under the age of 16 within a month of a landmark social media ban coming into force, according to the country’s internet regulator, signalling swift and widespread enforcement.

The eSafety Commissioner said the account removals were carried out to comply with legislation that took effect on December 10, marking the world’s first nationwide ban on social media use by under-16s. Some platforms began shutting down affected accounts in the weeks leading up to the deadline.

This marks the first official government data on compliance and suggests platforms are taking significant steps to adhere to the law, which carries penalties of up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance. The legislation does not impose penalties on children or their parents.

The number of deactivated accounts is significantly higher than earlier estimates and equates to more than two accounts for every Australian aged between 10 and 16, based on population figures. Meta previously disclosed that it had removed approximately 550,000 underage accounts across Instagram, Facebook and Threads.

The minimum age requirement applies to major platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and X, formerly Twitter. Reddit has said it is complying with the ban but is pursuing legal action against the government to overturn the legislation, which authorities say they will contest.

“It is clear that eSafety’s regulatory guidance and engagement with platforms is already delivering significant outcomes,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement.

She noted that some underage accounts remain active and that it is too early to declare full compliance. However, all platforms initially covered by the ban have confirmed their intention to comply.

Inman Grant added that while effective age-verification systems will take time to fully implement, feedback from age-assurance providers indicated the rollout had been smooth, supported by extensive public education efforts.

Although some smaller social media platforms saw a surge in downloads ahead of the ban, regulators said these spikes have not resulted in sustained user activity. The eSafety Commissioner said migration trends will continue to be monitored.

A long-term study involving mental health experts will assess the ban’s impact over the coming years.

Source: Reuters