January 16, 2026 – Australia, the first country globally to enforce a social media ban for individuals under 16, has witnessed a rapid surge in account removals since the law took effect. According to official data, major platforms like Meta have blocked approximately 4.7 million underage accounts across the nation just last month.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner’s office revealed that the crackdown, aligned with the legislation’s December 10 implementation, resulted in restricted access to these accounts within the first half of the month. The move addresses growing concerns over online risks, particularly for minors, in a country with a population of 28 million where social media usage among young users remains widespread.
Meta reported that nearly 550,000 accounts were shut down across Instagram and Facebook to comply with the new rules. However, detailed breakdowns of removals by individual platforms remain undisclosed.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant acknowledged that while it is too early to assess full compliance, the initial figures are promising. She emphasized that refining age-verification systems will take time and that the policy’s long-term effects on Australian children and families may only become clear over the coming years.
The law’s enforcement marks a pioneering step in regulating digital spaces for minors, though challenges in verification and enforcement are expected to persist as platforms adapt to the stricter framework.
