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

Social media platforms have deactivated approximately 4.7 million accounts in Australia since the government’s world-first ban on users under 16 took effect.

Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the figures on Friday, hailing the move as a victory for child safety.3 "Now Australian parents can be confident that their kids can have their childhoods back," Wells told reporters, adding that the government had successfully "stared down" some of the world's most powerful tech companies.

The figures, reported by 10 major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, provide the first look at the scale of the crackdown since the law was enacted in December 2025.

Platforms must take "reasonable steps" to bar children under 16 or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33.2 million). Companies are using age-estimation technology, ID checks, and data inference to verify users. Messaging services like WhatsApp remain exempt from the ban.

While officials did not provide a full platform-by-platform breakdown, Meta confirmed it had removed nearly 550,000 accounts across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads by the day the ban began.

Despite complying, Meta has been critical of the legislation. In a recent blog post, the company argued that the ban might push teenagers toward less regulated parts of the internet where safety is not a priority.

The Australian experiment is being watched closely by regulators worldwide. Denmark has already announced plans for a similar ban for those under 15, while nations like France, Malaysia, and Indonesia are considering similar steps.

Julie Inman Grant (eSafety Commissioner) noted that while some children may try to circumvent the ban using VPNs or older siblings' accounts, the goal is to reset "cultural norms" regarding young children's access to addictive algorithms.