In the wake of Australia’s groundbreaking law aimed at protecting children online, social media companies have swiftly removed access to millions of accounts belonging to users under the age of 16. This initiative, which went into effect in mid-December, has reportedly led to the deactivation of approximately 4.7 million accounts within just a month. Officials are celebrating this early success as a significant step towards safeguarding young Australians.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the achievement, stating, “Today I can announce that this is working. This is a source of Australian pride. This was world-leading legislation.” The new law mandates that the ten largest social media firms—including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat—identify and deactivate accounts held by users under 16. Failure to comply could result in hefty fines of up to $33 million.
Communications Minister Annika Wells highlighted the groundbreaking nature of this legislation, stating, “We stood in the face of everyone who said it couldn’t be done.” The minister expressed optimism that this would provide Australian parents with renewed confidence regarding their children’s online safety.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, noted that around 84% of children aged eight to 12 have at least one social media account, with approximately 2.5 million Australians aged between eight and 15. Despite the encouraging numbers regarding disabled accounts, there remain concerns about the existence of underage accounts that are still active.
While the reception has largely been positive among parents, there are skeptics. Some critics argue that enforcing this ban could prove challenging. Inman-Grant acknowledged the ongoing presence of underage accounts by pointing out that even well-established laws can see violations, using the analogy of traffic laws as an example.
It’s interesting to note that since the implementation of the ban, there has been an uptick in downloads of alternative apps, although the overall usage rates haven’t surged significantly. Social media companies are now employing various methods for age verification, including asking for identification or using facial recognition technology.
Meta has already reported removing around 550,000 accounts it suspects belong to users under 16, just a day after the regulations took effect. Generally, this law has found favor among parents and child safety advocates, but privacy advocates and youth organizations have raised concerns about its implications.
Looking beyond Australia, France is reportedly planning its own measures to restrict social media access for minors by 2026. Other nations and U.S. lawmakers are also taking cues from Australia’s approach, with some expressing interest in similar regulations to protect young users.
Senator John Cornyn from Texas stated, “I think we should consider what Australia is doing,” indicating a willingness to explore legislative action on social media regulation for minors. In contrast, Senator Dick Durbin highlighted the urgency of child protection in the digital realm, suggesting that restrictions might also include the sale or use of devices by minors.
