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Australia Deactivates 4.7M Child Accounts in Landmark Social Media Ban

In the initial days of Australia's pioneering social media ban for users under 16, over 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children were deactivated. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the compliance from companies a "meaningful effort," while eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant acknowledged the positive preliminary results but noted some child accounts remain active. The law, which came into effect on December 10, covers 10 major platforms including TikTok, X, and YouTube, with Meta reporting it had deactivated over 544,000 accounts. Companies that fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the ban face massive fines, as the government aims to reduce harm and reset cultural norms for children online.

Key Points: Australia's Social Media Ban Deactivates 4.7M Child Accounts

  • 4.7M accounts deactivated
  • Ban targets under-16s
  • Fines up to AU$49.5M for non-compliance
  • Meta deactivated 544,000 accounts
  • 10 major platforms covered
2 min read

Over 4.7 million accounts deactivated under Australia's social media ban for children

Over 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under 16 were deactivated in the first days of Australia's pioneering social media ban.

Over 4.7 million accounts deactivated under Australia's social media ban for children
"Change doesn't happen overnight. But these early signs show it's important we've acted to make this change. - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese"

Canberra, Jan 16

Over 4.7 million accounts belonging to children were deactivated in the first days of Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s, the federal government said on Friday.

Data released by the government's eSafety commissioner revealed that social media companies removed access to around 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children under 16 in the days after the ban took effect on December 10.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that it was encouraging that social media companies were making a 'meaningful effort' to comply with the ban.

"Change doesn't happen overnight. But these early signs show it's important we've acted to make this change," he said.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement that she was 'very pleased' with the preliminary results, but acknowledged reports of some accounts belonging to children under the age limit remaining active.

"While some kids may find creative ways to stay on social media, it's important to remember that just like other safety laws we have in society, success is measured by reduction in harm and in re-setting cultural norms," she said.

The government did not reveal how many accounts were deactivated by each of the 10 platforms covered by the ban, including TikTok, X and YouTube.

Meta announced on Monday that it had deactivated over 544,000 accounts across its platforms Facebook, Instagram and Threads as of December 11.

Under laws passed by the federal parliament in 2024, social media companies that fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the ban will face fines worth up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $33.17 million).

On December 10, Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s came into effect, with 10 major platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X, required to prevent them from holding accounts.

In a video message to students around Australia on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said that the government has made the change to support children who have grown up with algorithms, endless social media feeds and the pressure they bring.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Aman W
While the intent is good, 4.7 million deactivated accounts in days shows how pervasive the problem is. But will it really work? Kids are tech-savvy, they'll find workarounds. The real solution lies in parental guidance and teaching digital literacy in schools.
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Rohit P
Interesting move. In India, we have a huge youth population online. A blanket ban might be difficult to implement here, but stricter age verification and time limits could be a start. We can't let social media companies decide what's best for our children.
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Sarah B
As a parent, I fully support this. The pressure on kids from social media is unreal. We see it with our own children—constant comparison, fear of missing out. Sometimes, regulation is needed to protect the young. Kudos to Australia for taking the lead. 👏
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Vikram M
The fines are massive! 49.5 million AUD is a serious deterrent. Indian regulators should take note. Our laws often have weak penalties, so companies don't fear non-compliance. Strong enforcement is key to any policy's success.
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Nikhil C
I have mixed feelings. Yes, protection is important, but a complete ban feels heavy-handed. What about educational content or kids learning skills online? A more nuanced approach with parental controls and curated safe spaces might be better than an outright ban.
K
Kavya

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