Nearly 5 Million Accounts Removed Under Australia’s New Social Media Ban

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Laura Chung and Victoria KimJanuary 15, 2026 at 12:31 PM

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long article 4 min

In January 2026, the Australian government announced that nearly five million social media accounts belonging to teenagers under 16 were deactivated or removed a month after a new law took effect. The law, implemented in December, requires social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services, with potential fines for non-compliance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lauded the law as a pioneering effort to protect young people from social media's potential harms. While the government views the account removals as a positive sign, some teenagers have reported circumventing the ban by misrepresenting their age. The eSafety Commissioner, responsible for enforcing the law, has not released detailed data beyond the total number of removed accounts. Several countries are closely monitoring the law's impact.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Denmark 40% New Zealand 40% France 40% European Union 40% eSafety Commissioner 50% Reddit 60% Meta 60% Anthony Albanese 60% Snapchat 60% Instagram ×270% Facebook ×270% Australia 90%

Keywords

social media ban 100% underage users 90% australia 90% social media platforms 80% account removal 70% online safety 60% age verification 50% mental health 40%