Australia's under‑16 social media ban prompts 4.7 million account removals

In December 2025 Australia enacted the world’s first law prohibiting anyone under 16 from creating accounts on major social‑media platforms. The legislation obliges companies such as Meta, TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube to take "reasonable preventive measures" and led to the deletion or restriction of roughly 4.7 million youth accounts within three months, according to the eSafety Commissioner. Meta reported 550,000 removals and Snap 415,000 locks in the first weeks.

While officials hail the figure as a “significant outcome”, many teenagers bypass age checks using facial‑recognition tricks, falsified IDs or by shifting to unregulated apps like Roblox. Parents and experts note that bullying has moved to less visible corners of the internet, potentially making it harder to detect. University researchers and child‑safety advocates warn that a blanket ban may not address the underlying issues of cyber‑bullying and mental‑health risks.

The Australian move has spurred similar proposals abroad: Denmark, France and the United Kingdom plan comparable restrictions for 2026, and more than 30 U.S. states have already limited cellphone use in K‑12 classrooms. The broader debate reflects growing scrutiny of screen time and digital media’s impact on young people’s development.