Social media companies have shut down nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers just one month after a new law banning under-16s from using major platforms came into force.
The country’s internet safety regulator says the figures show the law is already having a strong and immediate impact.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said about 4.7 million accounts held by users under the age of 16 have been deactivated since the law took effect on December 10. Some platforms had already begun closing accounts in the weeks leading up to the deadline to prepare for compliance.
This is the first official data released by the government since the ban began. It suggests social media companies are taking the law seriously, as they face potential fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars if they fail to comply. The law places responsibility on the platforms, not on children or their parents.
The number of removed accounts is much higher than earlier estimates and works out to more than two accounts for every Australian aged between 10 and 16, based on population figures. Meta previously said it had removed around 550,000 underage accounts across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.
The age restriction applies to major platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and X, formerly known as Twitter. Reddit has said it is complying with the law but is also challenging it in court, arguing the ban should be overturned. The Australian government has said it will defend the legislation.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the results show that the regulator’s guidance and engagement with platforms are already producing meaningful outcomes. She added that while many accounts have been removed, some underage users may still be active, and it is too early to say full compliance has been achieved.
Grant noted that setting up reliable age-checking systems takes time. However, feedback from age-assurance providers, which are often third-party companies hired by platforms, suggests the rollout has gone smoothly. Public education campaigns before the ban began also helped ease the transition.
In the weeks before the ban, some smaller social media apps saw a rise in downloads in Australia. The regulator said it is watching these migration trends closely, but early signs show that the spikes in downloads have not turned into long-term use.
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The government has also commissioned a long-term study involving mental health experts to track how the ban affects young people over the coming years. The findings are expected to play a key role in shaping future online safety policies in Australia.
