CANBERRA – More than 4.7 million social media accounts belonging to children have been deactivated in the opening days of Australia’s landmark ban on under-16 users, the federal government confirmed Friday.
According to data from the eSafety Commissioner, platforms removed access to millions of accounts flagged as underage shortly after the ban came into force on Dec. 10.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the early compliance, calling it a “meaningful effort” by tech companies.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant described the initial results as “very pleasing,” though she acknowledged that some underage accounts remain active.
“While some kids may find creative ways to stay online, success is measured by reducing harm and reshaping cultural norms,” she noted.
The government has not disclosed the breakdown of deactivated accounts across the 10 platforms covered by the ban, which include TikTok, X and YouTube.
Meta, however, reported that it had removed more than 544,000 accounts across Facebook, Instagram and Threads by Dec. 11.
Under legislation passed in 2024, companies that fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the ban risk fines of up to AUD49.5 million (US$33.17 million). – January 16, 2026