Millions of Australians lose social media access. Here’s why
Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Threads, Twitch and Kick must now remove accounts held by under-16s and block new sign-ups.
Millions of children and teenagers in Australia have lost access to their social media accounts. (File Photo)
Millions of children and teenagers in Australia have lost access to their social media accounts after a new law banning users under 16 came into force, the BBC reported.
Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Threads, Twitch and Kick must now remove accounts held by under-16s and block new sign-ups. Companies that fail to follow the rules face fines of up to A$49.5m.
Why government introduced social media ban
The government says the law aims to protect young people from harmful content, but critics told The Guardian the move could isolate vulnerable teenagers or push them towards unregulated parts of the internet.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote at the weekend, “We have said from the beginning this process won’t be perfect. But the message this law sends will be clear.”
He compared it to Australia’s legal drinking age, saying rare breaches do not reduce the value of a national standard.
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Mixed reactions from families
Parents told The Guardian their children had been going through age checks, sharing phone numbers and preparing for account shutdowns.
One parent said their 15-year-old daughter was upset because “all her friends have been age verified as 18… she fears they will keep talking on Snapchat and she will be left out”.
The Australian government says the restriction is needed to counter the worsening mental health crisis caused by excessive social media use. (File Photo)
Another parent said the ban forced him to teach his child ways to bypass restrictions. “I’ve shown her how VPNs work. I’ve helped her set up an adult YouTube account… I will keep helping her each time the app checks her age,” he said.
Others supported the change. One parent said the ban “gives us a framework to keep her off these platforms”.
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eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told The Guardian she will ask platforms for details on how many accounts they have removed and what challenges they are facing. The government will also commission an independent review to examine both the benefits and unintended effects over time.
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Millions of children and teenagers in Australia have lost access to their social media accounts. (File Photo) 
