Australia has successfully deactivated 4.7 million underage social media accounts in the first month following a historic ban on users under 16, according to government officials.
Australia has reported a significant reduction in underage social media accounts since the implementation of a new law aimed at protecting children online. In the first month following the ban on users under the age of 16, approximately 4.7 million accounts were shut down across various platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
The legislation, which took effect in mid-December, mandates that social media companies identify and deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 years old. Australian officials celebrated the early results of this initiative, highlighting its potential impact on the safety of children in digital environments.
“Today, we can announce that this is working,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated during a news conference. “This is a source of Australian pride. This was world-leading legislation, but it is now being followed up around the world.”
The law applies to ten major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Snapchat, Kick, Reddit, Threads, Twitch, and YouTube. Companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to remove underage users could face fines of up to $33 million.
Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells expressed confidence in the law’s effectiveness, stating, “We stared down everybody who said it couldn’t be done, some of the most powerful and rich companies in the world and their supporters. Now Australian parents can be confident that their kids can have their childhoods back.”
According to Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, there are approximately 2.5 million Australians aged 8 to 15, with around 84% of children aged 8 to 12 possessing at least one social media account. While the total number of accounts across platforms remains unclear, Inman Grant noted that the number of deactivated accounts is a positive sign.
“We’re preventing predatory social media companies from accessing our children,” Inman Grant remarked during the news conference.
Despite the law’s popularity among parents and child safety advocates, some critics have raised concerns about its enforceability. Inman Grant acknowledged that some underage accounts may still be active. “We don’t expect safety laws to eliminate every single breach. If we did, speed limits would have failed because people speed, drinking limits would have failed because, believe it or not, some kids do get access to alcohol,” she explained.
Data reviewed by her office indicated a rise in downloads of alternative apps following the ban, although there was no corresponding increase in usage of these platforms.
Social media companies can verify users’ ages through various methods, including requesting identification documents, employing third-party age estimation technology, or analyzing existing data such as account activity duration. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, reported that it removed nearly 550,000 accounts belonging to users it believed were under 16 just one day after the ban was enacted.
While many parents and child safety advocates have welcomed the new law, online privacy advocates and youth organizations have expressed opposition. Concerns have been raised about the implications for privacy and the potential for overreach.
In light of Australia’s actions, other countries are considering similar measures. France, for example, is reportedly planning to ban children under 15 from social media starting in 2026. Additionally, some U.S. lawmakers have shown interest in pursuing social media restrictions for minors.
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, stated, “I think we ought to look at what Australia’s doing, for example, requiring access to these social media platforms to not be available to anybody under the age of 16.”
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, also emphasized the need for protective measures, saying, “Protecting children is an avenue that should be pursued. I won’t rule out some sort of limitation in sales or distribution or use of those devices… Parents and grandparents need a helping hand; this is getting out of hand.”
As the debate over online safety continues, Australia’s bold move sets a precedent that may influence global discussions on the regulation of social media access for minors, according to Fox News.