Nearly 5 million Australian teen accounts deactivated in first month

The Australian internet regulator, eSafety, has announced a formal investigation into five major social media platforms, expressing "significant concerns" regarding their compliance with the nation's world-first under-16 ban.

In its first comprehensive assessment since the legislation took effect on 10 December 2025, the watchdog identified "poor practices" across Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated on Tuesday that while initial actions were taken, the watchdog is now moving into an "enforcement stance" to ensure platforms are implementing robust systems rather than simply removing a fraction of underage users.

The scale of the "cultural reset" is evident from early data released in January, which confirmed that approximately 4.7 million accounts were deactivated, removed, or restricted in the first month of the law’s operation.

Meta specifically reported deactivating nearly 550,000 accounts across its platforms, while Snap Inc. confirmed it had locked over 415,000 Australian accounts by February.

Despite these numbers, critics point to a BBC investigation in Sydney, which found that a majority of students still bypass age-assurance methods.

Commissioner Inman Grant emphasised that the onus remains on Big Tech, stating: "The evidence must establish the platform has not taken reasonable steps... that means more than simply demonstrating some children do still have accounts."

While the ban enjoys widespread parental support, advocacy groups warn it may disproportionately isolate vulnerable youth. Research from the University of Virginia and youth mental health experts suggests that LGBTQ+ teenagers and those in rural areas are more likely to lose vital support communities.

Furthermore, reports indicate that 42% of terror-related arrests in some regions involve minors, leading some to argue that education on "digital resilience" is more effective than a total ban.

As the mid-year deadline for potential penalties approaches, Australia’s $49.5 million fine threshold looms over any company found to have insufficient age-verification processes.