Australia's Social Media Ban Deactivates Millions of Teen Accounts
Australia's new social media ban for under-16s has led to the deactivation of approximately 4.7 million teen accounts within its first month, according to the country's internet regulator. This swift impact signals the measure's effectiveness.
The eSafety Commissioner reported that platforms removed these accounts to comply with the law, which commenced in December. This figure represents the first government data on compliance.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed pride in the "world leading legislation," noting its global influence. France, Malaysia, and Indonesia plan similar laws, with some European nations and U.S. states also considering following Australia's lead.
Platforms are taking significant steps to adhere to the law. Non-compliant companies face fines up to A$49.5 million ($33 million), though children or their parents are not held liable.
The tally of deactivated accounts is higher than previous estimates, equating to more than two accounts for every Australian aged 10 to 16. Meta previously stated it removed around 550,000 underage accounts from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.
The minimum age rule applies to platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and X, formerly Twitter. Reddit is complying but is suing the government to overturn the ban.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant acknowledged enforcement difficulties, noting some underage accounts remain active. She cautioned it is too early to declare full compliance, drawing parallels to speed limits.
Some smaller social media applications saw an initial surge of downloads in Australia before the ban's rollout in December. However, eSafety noted these spikes did not translate into sustained usage.
A long-term study with mental health experts will track the ban's impact for several years.
Approximately 4.7 million social media accounts belonging to under-16s have been deactivated in Australia.
The deactivations occurred within the first month of a new law banning under-16s from social media.
Companies face fines up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) for non-compliance, but children and parents are not held liable.
Source: REUTERS
