Under-16 Social Media Ban Takes Effect in Australia, 4.7 Million Accounts Removed

Australia’s landmark ban on social media access for children under 16 has begun reshaping the digital landscape at an unprecedented pace. Just one month after the law came into force, millions of teenage accounts have been deactivated, signalling swift enforcement by global tech platforms and close oversight by the country’s internet regulator.

Australia Social Media Ban Hits 4.7 Million Teen Accounts in First Month

Massive Account Removals After Under-16 Ban Takes Effect

Social media companies have collectively deactivated nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers within a month of the country’s world-first ban on under-16s. The rapid enforcement highlights the immediate and far-reaching impact of the legislation.

According to Australia’s internet regulator, the law came into effect on December 10, and compliance measures began even before the deadline, with several platforms proactively shutting down affected accounts.

First Official Compliance Data Released by eSafety Commissioner

The eSafety Commissioner confirmed that platforms have so far removed about 4.7 million accounts held by users under the age of 16.

This marks the first government-released data on compliance with the new law and indicates that major platforms are taking concrete steps to avoid penalties.

Under the legislation, companies that fail to comply face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million). Importantly, the law places responsibility on platforms, not on children or their parents.

Account Numbers Far Exceed Early Estimates

The number of removed accounts is significantly higher than earlier projections and equates to more than two accounts for every Australian aged 10 to 16, based on national population data.

Previously, Meta had disclosed that it removed around 550,000 underage accounts across Instagram, Facebook and Threads, suggesting that enforcement has since accelerated across the wider industry.

Platforms Affected by the Minimum Age Rule

The under-16 age restriction applies to all major social media services operating in Australia.

Platforms Covered Under the Ban

The rule affects:

• Google’s YouTube

• TikTok

• Snapchat

• X (formerly Twitter)

• Meta’s platforms

• Reddit

While Reddit has stated that it is complying with the ban, the company is also suing the Australian government in an attempt to overturn the law. The government has said it will defend the legislation.

Regulator Says Early Results Are Encouraging

Commenting on the initial impact, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said:

“It is clear that eSafety’s regulatory guidance and engagement with platforms is already delivering significant outcomes,”

She cautioned, however, that full compliance cannot yet be confirmed, noting that some underage accounts may still be active.

Age Verification Systems Still Being Rolled Out

According to the Commissioner, implementing reliable age-verification technology will take time.

Role of Age-Assurance Providers

Platforms are relying on third-party age-assurance providers to verify users’ ages. Feedback from these vendors suggests that Australia’s rollout has been relatively smooth, helped by public education campaigns conducted before the ban came into force.

Smaller Apps See Short-Term Download Surge

In the weeks leading up to the December rollout, some smaller social media apps reported a spike in downloads within Australia.

The eSafety Commissioner said authorities are closely monitoring what it described as “migration trends”, where users might move to alternative platforms.

However, early data suggests these initial download surges have not translated into sustained long-term usage.

Long-Term Impact on Mental Health to Be Studied

To understand the broader consequences of the ban, Australia will conduct a multi-year study involving mental health experts. The research will track the law’s long-term effects on children’s wellbeing, online behaviour, and digital safety.