SYDNEY, 15 January 2026 — Australia’s world-first ban on social media use by children under 16 has led to the deactivation of nearly 4.7 million teenage accounts within its first month, according to the country’s internet regulator, signalling a rapid and wide-ranging impact across major platforms.
The eSafety Commissioner said social media companies began removing under-age accounts following the law’s entry into force on Dec 10, with some platforms starting enforcement in the weeks leading up to the deadline.
The figures represent the first official government data on compliance and suggest platforms are taking substantial action to adhere to the legislation, which allows authorities to impose fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million) for non-compliance. The law does not place liability on children or their parents.
The number of accounts removed is significantly higher than earlier estimates and equates to more than two accounts for every Australian aged 10 to 16, based on population data. Meta Platforms previously disclosed that it had removed around 550,000 under-age accounts across Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
The minimum-age requirement also applies to platforms including Alphabet’s YouTube, TikTok, Snap Inc., and X, formerly Twitter. Reddit has said it is complying with the law but is seeking to overturn the ban through legal action, a move the Australian government has said it will defend.
“It is clear that eSafety’s regulatory guidance and engagement with platforms is already delivering significant outcomes,” said Julie Inman Grant in a statement.
She cautioned, however, that full compliance has not yet been achieved, noting that some under-age accounts remain active. All companies initially covered by the ban have stated their intention to comply.
Inman Grant said that robust age-verification systems would take time to fully implement, but feedback from age-assurance providers, typically third-party software vendors engaged by platforms, indicated that Australia’s rollout had been relatively smooth, supported by extensive public education ahead of enforcement.
While some smaller social media applications saw a spike in downloads in Australia ahead of the December rollout, the regulator said those increases have not translated into sustained usage. eSafety added it would continue monitoring potential migration trends.
A long-term study with mental health experts has been commissioned to assess the ban’s impact on children and teenagers over the coming years.
