Australia Shuts Down 5 Million Teen Social Media Accounts After New Law

Australia has taken action by deactivating almost five million social media accounts belonging to teenagers under the age of 16, swiftly following the implementation of a new law. The eSafety Commission revealed that approximately 4.7 million accounts have been removed by platforms to adhere to the regulations introduced as of December 10.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labeled this initiative as “a point of pride for Australia.”

Other nations such as France, Malaysia, and Indonesia are eyeing similar restrictions, while several European countries and select states in the US are contemplating following Australia’s example.

Data from the government sheds light on compliance, demonstrating that social media companies are taking substantial measures to enforce the law. Non-compliant platforms might face fines soaring up to A$49.5 million ($33 million). Notably, children and parents will not bear responsibility for violations.

The number of deactivated accounts significantly surpasses previous estimates, averaging over two accounts for each Australian aged 10 to 16. Meta has disclosed that around 550,000 accounts were removed across its platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.

The age restriction applies to popular platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter). While Reddit is complying with the regulations, it is also challenging the ban legally. The government has committed to defending the new law.

Critics suggest that enforcement may pose challenges, yet eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant remarked that complete eradication of underage activity is impractical. “We don’t expect safety laws to erase every breach. If we did, then speed limits wouldn’t work because people speed, and laws against drinking wouldn’t succeed as some underage individuals still access alcohol,” she articulated.

All major social media firms originally targeted by the legislation have expressed commitment to comply. Some smaller applications recently noted a rise in downloads preceding the December roll-out; however, the eSafety agency stated that this did not translate into sustained usage.

Additionally, a long-term study involving mental health professionals has been initiated to monitor the effects of the ban over subsequent years.