KUALA LUMPUR: Australia's world-first ban on social media access for children under 16 is showing early signs of success, with underage account ownership falling by 37 per cent and more than five million accounts restricted since the law took effect, according to the country's online safety regulator.
The regulator, eSafety, said research conducted after the legislation took effect on Dec 10, 2025, found under-16 account ownership had dropped from 49.7 per cent to 31.3 per cent, while parents reported greater success in setting healthier boundaries around social media use.
The legislation requires social media companies to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts, with non-compliant platforms facing fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million).
Under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, responsibility rests with technology companies, rather than parents or children, to prevent under-16s from holding social media accounts.
Platforms subject to the restriction include TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Reddit and YouTube. There are no penalties for children bypassing the restrictions or for their parents.
"In short, this is not about restricting access to social media to underage children; this is about restricting social media from accessing our children,” eSafety said in a written response channelled through the Australian High Commission in Malaysia.
The rollout has attracted varied responses from online users, free speech advocates and technology observers.
The discussion gained further attention after X owner Elon Musk publicly criticised eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. Inman Grant has said she subsequently experienced online threats and personal attacks.
The issue reflects ongoing discussions about the balance between strengthening online safety measures and safeguarding freedom of expression in the digital space.
The criticism intensified after X owner Elon Musk publicly labelled her a "censorship commissar”. Inman Grant said she had received death threats, been doxxed and had members of her family targeted online.
However, eSafety said the reforms were designed to protect children from harmful content, online abuse, compulsive use patterns and unwanted contact from strangers rather than punish young people or isolate them from technology.
"These reforms recognise that highly immersive and persuasive social media products can expose children to risks during critical stages of development, including harmful content, online abuse, compulsive use patterns and unwanted contact from strangers,” eSafety said.
Addressing concerns over attempts to bypass the restrictions through VPNs, alternative accounts or adult-owned accounts, eSafety said Australia had adopted a technology-neutral approach, requiring platforms to implement measures capable of preventing circumvention.
However, eSafety said it remained concerned about aspects of industry compliance and was continuing to investigate whether platforms were meeting their obligations under Australian law.
On privacy concerns, eSafety said privacy and safety were not mutually exclusive, noting that Australia had not mandated any single age-assurance technology or required platforms to collect more personal information than necessary.
It is also conducting a longitudinal study involving more than 4,000 children and families over two years to assess the impact of the reforms on wellbeing, mental health, online behaviour and family relationships.
Meanwhile, Acting Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Simon Fellows said Australia and Malaysia were exchanging experiences on online safety and social media minimum-age approaches at both senior and technical levels.
"We are exchanging experiences on online safety and social media minimum-age approaches at senior and technical levels, and we look forward to continuing this engagement as implementation progresses in both countries,” he said. - Bernama
