Federal government data released on Friday shows the significant impact of these bans, although specific details on the number of people removed from each platform have not been disclosed by the eSafety Commission.
Implemented on December 10, the laws require platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Snapchat, and YouTube to take steps to ensure that children under 16 do not have accounts. By December 12, a total of 4.7 million accounts had been shut down, suspended, or restricted.
Despite some children finding ways around the rules, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant believes that the restrictions are worthwhile in preventing predatory social media companies from accessing children.
While more granular data on the ban’s effectiveness has not been released to avoid impacting ongoing investigations, eSafety is working with tech platforms to ensure their age verification systems are accurate.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the ban as a “source of Australian pride,” noting support from parents and children. Australia’s initiative has inspired other countries like the UK, Malaysia, and New Zealand to consider similar age restrictions.
Although some teenagers have managed to bypass the age limits, a significant number have already been removed from platforms. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, reported taking down over half a million Australian user accounts prior to the ban.
Between December 4 and 11, Meta removed 330,639 Instagram accounts, 173,497 Facebook accounts, and 39,916 Threads accounts believed to belong to individuals under 16 years old.
