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Australia's under-16 social media ban faces enforcement and compliance questions

CBS News reports account holding among 10- to 15-year-olds fell about 20% after Australia's ban; the eSafety commissioner says half of remaining under-16 account holders were not asked to confirm age.

Updated Oct 26, 2026 · 00:16 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Australia became the first country to force many social media platforms to keep children under 16 off accounts.[CBS News]
  • Watchdog research cited by CBS News shows a roughly 20% drop in account holding among 10- to 15-year-olds in the first three months.[CBS News · CBS News]
  • The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, says 50% of under-16 account holders were not asked to confirm their age, and companies could face penalties of about $70 million each if noncompliance is proven.[CBS News · CBS News]
  • Noah Jones is a witness in a High Court challenge arguing the ban violates the right to political communication, and no ruling is reported.[CBS News · CBS News]

Key facts

  • Australia became the first country to force many social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from having accounts.[CBS News]
  • Research from Australia's online safety watchdog found the number of 10- to 15-year-olds holding at least one account on age-restricted platforms fell by around 20% in the first three months of the ban.[CBS News · CBS News]
  • Three months after the ban took effect, 50% of under-16s still holding accounts said they had not been asked to confirm their age, according to eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant.[CBS News · CBS News]
  • Companies could face civil penalties of around $70 million each if noncompliance is proven.[CBS News · CBS News]
  • Noah Jones is a witness in a High Court challenge arguing the ban violates the right to political communication.[CBS News · CBS News]

What remains uncertain

  • Inman Grant claims some platforms may not be fully enforcing the law because they want it to fail; Meta, Snap and TikTok defended their measures, and the claim about intent is not independently established.[CBS News · CBS News]
  • Civil penalties of around $70 million are possible only if the eSafety commissioner investigates and proves noncompliance; no such finding is reported.[CBS News · CBS News]
  • The outcome of the High Court challenge is not reported in either article.[CBS News · CBS News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.