Millions of Australian children woke up on Wednesday to find their social media accounts suspended, as the country rolled out a world-first ban aimed at shielding those under 16 from addictive algorithms, online predators and digital bullying. The sweeping restrictions – unprecedented in scale – are now being closely watched by policymakers worldwide.
Under the new law, ten major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Reddit, Twitch and X must block users under 16 by deploying age verification systems and shutting down existing accounts. Platforms face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million) if they fail to prove they have taken “reasonable steps” to deactivate under-age accounts and prevent new ones from being opened.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as a “proud day” for Australian families, saying it shifts power away from tech giants and gives parents greater peace of mind. But he acknowledged that implementation “won’t be simple,” with many children expected to attempt bypassing the ban. Notably, there are no penalties for minors or parents who flout the rules.
Major platforms have already begun enforcing the law. Meta removed under-16 accounts across Instagram, Facebook and Threads last week, while TikTok and YouTube began mass deactivations on December 10. Snapchat users found to be under-age will have their accounts suspended for three years or until they turn 16. Twitch will delay its deactivation process until January.
Some platforms, however, are not part of the ban – at least for now. Discord, Roblox, Messenger, Pinterest, Steam and YouTube Kids remain accessible. The exemption of Roblox has raised eyebrows given recent reports of predatory behaviour within its gaming ecosystem. The eSafety Commissioner said Roblox has agreed to introduce stricter age controls, including mandatory age verification for chat functions.
Children are already gravitating towards lesser-known alternatives. Yope, a photo-sharing platform, reported a surge of 1,00,000 new users in Australia, while ByteDance-owned Lemon8 is gaining traction as a back-up to TikTok. Regulators warn this rapid migration risks creating a “whack-a-mole” scenario where teens move to unregulated digital spaces.
Authorities aim to monitor both positive outcomes and unintended consequences. Researchers will track whether children spend more time outdoors, sleep better, or experience lower rates of anxiety – while also examining whether they are driven to darker, unmonitored corners of the internet.
Australia’s findings, backed by Stanford University experts and an international academic panel, will eventually be published to guide other governments considering similar restrictions.