Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood firm on Wednesday as Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from using major social media platforms.
Many teenagers posted videos bragging about how to get around the restrictions within hours of its implementation.
The Prime Minister called the December 9 launch “one of the biggest social and cultural changes our country has ever faced”, while teenagers flooded TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat with posts mocking the new rules.
Some users shared screenshots of successful account creation despite the age verification system.
Electronics Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant admitted there were “problems” on day one but dismissed suggestions the ban had failed. She announced plans to send information notices to tech giants within seven to 10 days requesting progress reports on account deactivations. Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to $49.5 million.
Communications Minister Anika Wells revealed that more than 200,000 TikTok accounts had been deactivated in Australia before the ban came into effect. The government plans to require all platforms covered by the legislation to provide up-to-date numbers.
Elon Musk’s X became the last company to insist on confirming compliance, with the platform saying “it’s not our choice, it’s required by Australian law.” Musk had previously criticized the ban as a “backdoor way to control internet use for all Australians.”
The legislation targets Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X and YouTube, requiring platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage users from creating accounts. Gaming platforms and messaging services like Roblox remain unrestricted.
International attention is focused on Australia’s approach. Malaysia has announced plans for a similar ban in 2026, while Republican Senator Josh Hawley told reporters that American parents would welcome similar restrictions. “Parents need help, and they feel like they’re swimming against the tide when everyone else has social media,” Hawley said.
Critics say the hasty legislation, which was passed in just nine days, ignores warnings from experts about isolating vulnerable children from online support communities. Youth mental health expert Patrick McGorry said the government was “not listening to the experts” when setting policy.
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt hailed the ban as “one of the most important international reforms” aimed at reducing the harm of social media to young people. He compared the milestone to the world’s first mandatory seat belt laws in Victoria in 1970.
Inman Grant emphasized that the ban was intended to support parents, not punish families. “The main reason is, they don’t want their children to be left out,” she said. She was referring to why 90 percent of parents have previously helped their children aged 8 to 12 set up social media accounts.
Regulators will monitor compliance through intelligence gathering and investigations. “It’s not just regulation that’s holding these companies back, it’s reputational damage and revenue impacts,” Inman Grant warned.
