Hey fam! On December 10, 2025, Australia flipped the script with a world-first law banning under-16s from social media 📵. Just over a month later (mid-Jan 2026), Australia's internet regulator – the eSafety Commissioner – says platforms have deactivated about 4.7 million teen accounts to comply.
That's more than two accounts for every Aussie aged 10 to 16! Meta alone removed around 550,000 underage profiles from Instagram, Facebook and Threads. The rule also covers YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and X. Even Reddit, which is suing to overturn the ban, says it's playing by the new rules for now.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hailed the move as a point of national pride. And he's right: regulators worldwide are watching. France, Malaysia and Indonesia plan similar bans, and talks are under way in parts of Europe and the US 🌏.
Critics warn enforcement won't be foolproof. eSafety chief Julie Inman Grant admits some underage accounts remain active and says it's early days – no law is perfect (just like speed limits and drinking ages). Platforms face fines up to A$49.5 million (~US$33M) if they slip up.
Smaller apps saw download spikes in Australia before launch, but those trends haven't stuck. Now, a multi-year study with mental health experts will track how the ban affects teen wellbeing and online habits.
Whether you're in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or Manila, the buzz is real: will your feed look different if this hits our region? 🤔
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
