Nearly five million social media accounts belonging to Australian teenagers have been deactivated just a month after the country implemented a world-first ban on under-16s, the nation's internet regulator reported, signaling a swift and extensive impact.
According to the eSafety Commissioner, platforms have removed approximately 4.7 million accounts to comply with the law, which came into effect on Dec. 10, 2025.
Some companies had begun closing affected accounts in the weeks leading up to the deadline.
The figures, the first official government data on compliance, indicate that social media companies are taking substantial steps to follow a law that carries fines of up to $49.5 million for non-compliance, though neither children nor their parents face penalties.