Australia Enforces Teen Social Media Ban, Meta Begins Locking Under-16 Accounts

Australia's internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, stated that the country's new social media ban for users under 16 will initiate a global movement to regulate major tech platforms.

Despite initial concerns over the "blunt-force" nature of the ban, Inman Grant affirmed its necessity, calling it a "tipping point" against the powerful and harmful design features that exploit users, especially children.

The law is set to take effect on December 10, carrying a potential fine of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) for non-compliance. Ahead of this deadline, platforms owned by Meta (Instagram, Facebook, and Threads) have already begun deactivating accounts belonging to hundreds of thousands of underage users, according to recent screenshots.

Other affected platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, are also complying by instructing users under 16 to download their data and choose between deleting or freezing their accounts until they reach the legal age. This new regulation impacts over one million Australian teenagers.

The move has been praised by parents, who welcome the removal of pressure and the alleviation of potential mental health implications associated with constant social media use.

Inman Grant also noted that the platforms' lobbying efforts extended to the U.S. government, which has requested her testimony regarding the potential "extra-territorial power" of the Australian law over American free speech.