Social media companies have deactivated almost five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers in a month of the country enforcing a world-first ban on social media use for children under 16, Australia’s internet regulator said on Wednesday. The move is a signal of what will be an early and broad-ranging impact of the controversial legislation, which took effect on December 10.
The eSafety Commissioner said the number of under 16 accounts that have had been removed so far is about 4.7 million as platforms work to comply with the new law. The numbers were deeply welcomed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has touted them as proof that the policy is working.
Speaking at a news conference, he said the ban was “world-leading legislation” and had become a cause for national pride and now other countries are looking to Australia as a model.
The law is being closely monitored by regulators around the world. France, Malaysia and Indonesia have already indicated they are planning a similar introduction while several European countries and US states are discussing similar restrictions.
Under the Australian framework, social media companies could be fined as much as A$49.5 million for failing to comply, but children and their parents are not penalised.
The new figures represent the first official government figures on enforcement and are higher than previous estimates. Based on population figures, that translates into over two accounts to each Australian aged between the ages of 10 and 16.
Meta’s Removed About 550,000 Underage Accounts Across Instagram, Facebook and Threads Alone Meta has said it removed about 550,000 underage accounts across Instagram, Facebook and Threads alone.
The minimum age requirement covers major platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and X. Reddit has said it’s complying with the law but has also opened legal action challenging the ban, something the government says it will challenge.
While critics say the policy will be hard to properly enforce, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said some underage accounts are currently in use, noting no law is 100 per cent being adhered to in terms of safety.
Authorities are also keeping an eye out for teenagers flocking to smaller versions, although initial surges in downloads have not resulted in stickiness. A long-term study of mental health experts will determine the wider effects of the ban in the next years.
Also read: No social media for teens, Australia starts enforcing ban
