eSafety Commissioner warns teens will shift platforms as Australia’s landmark social media ban begins
Australia has made history by banning social media for under-16s, yet the country’s top internet safety official admits kids will likely outsmart the restrictions.
Australia’s world-first social-media ban for under-16s began today, but the eSafety Commissioner has warned teenagers may shift to new platforms as tech giants brace for enforcement.
The landmark ban came into effect at midnight Tuesday, blocking anyone under 16 from accessing major social media apps.
Accounts suspected of being operated by children will be suspended unless they can provide ID verification.
The restrictions apply to Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, X, Twitch, Reddit, Threads and Kick, with platforms required to take “reasonable steps” to stop children from having accounts.
“We watched what American kids did when TikTok went down – they went to Rednote, they went to Lemon8, which is an Instagram clone,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.
“ … some of that is going to happen but that’s what teenagers do.”
Parents and children face no penalties if they breach the rules, but platforms that fail to comply could be fined up to $49.5 million.
Reddit on Tuesday confirmed it would comply with the ban after earlier arguing it was primarily an information service.
Speaking to the ABC, Ms Inman Grant called it an “absolutely momentous” day and urged families to help teens adjust.
“What is happening now and we, as parents, need to make sure that we’re preparing our kids for the summer holidays to fill their time, kind of like we used to play, riding the bike and reading the books and playing the board games and going to the beach,” she said.
“Our kids will be all right.”
She also rejected criticism that the rollout was chaotic, and accused tech companies of resisting change.
“People will say the rollout was messy, well it was always going to be messy when you’re dragging the most powerful, rich companies kicking and screaming into doing something they don’t want to do,” she said.
“We have to work with the platforms and make sure they’re continuing to innovate and improve,” she said. “If we see blatant noncompliance or if we’re challenged in court around our notices or enforcement action we take, we will take each step as it comes.”
Some companies, she said, were already showing resistance.
“There are seven stages of grief – we have seen some (platforms) be very accepting, some in denial, some are angry,” she said.
“You can see, even in the letters they sent to users, about how much they dislike the policy. That shows the character of the company and how they’re taking this.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “very proud” to launch the ban.
“Young people themselves have said enough is enough,” he said.
“This is the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies. They are asserting the right of kids to be kids and for parents to have greater peace of mind. This is a proud day.”
He acknowledged enforcement “won’t be simple” but said it remained vital.
“It will be a difficult period going through … any transition is of course,” he said.
“We also want to have those discussions between parents and teachers and young people and to engage. This is a very important.”
Ms Inman Grant told Today that “teething issues” were expected as platforms process millions of accounts.
“You may see some of these accounts being deactivated or removed. I don’t expect that they’re all going to magically disappear,” she said.
“There are going to be technology teething issues it takes a while to replicate through these major systems.”
We’re powerless to fight against that sometimes,” she said.
“What chance do our kids have? So this will balance the playing field and let’s hope they’re out on the playing field.”
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Originally published as eSafety Commissioner warns teens will shift platforms as Australia’s landmark social media ban begins
