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Australia’s Social Media Age Verification Law: Impact and Ongoing Concerns
Australia’s new online safety laws, designed to protect children by requiring age verification on social media platforms, have led to the deactivation of millions of accounts. while the government hails this as a meaningful step forward, concerns remain about the effectiveness of the law and its potential impact on young people’s wellbeing. This article provides an updated overview of the legislation, its implementation, and the ongoing debate surrounding its efficacy, as of January 16, 2026.
The New Legislation and Initial Results
In December 2023, Australia implemented new regulations requiring social media platforms to verify the ages of thier users. The goal was to prevent children under 16 from accessing platforms without parental consent. The eSafety Commissioner, the government agency responsible for overseeing online safety, has been monitoring the implementation of these laws. Initial reports in January 2024 indicated that over 4.7 million accounts had been deactivated, removed, or restricted as reported by SBS News.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the figures as “encouraging,” stating that social media companies were making a “meaningful effort” to comply with the new regulations . Communications Minister anika Wells echoed this sentiment, calling the number of deactivated accounts a “huge achievement.”
Challenges to the Reported Success
Despite the government’s positive assessment, experts have raised concerns about the true impact of the law. University of Sydney researcher Timothy Koskie cautioned that the 4.7 million figure likely includes multiple accounts belonging to the same individuals . He emphasized the difficulty in determining how many under-16s have genuinely stopped using social media, given the availability of workarounds such as creating accounts under false names or using parental accounts.
Koskie argues that simply shutting down accounts doesn’t necessarily equate to protecting young people. He highlights the possibility of children circumventing the restrictions, rendering the law less effective in achieving its primary goal.
Impact on Youth Wellbeing: A Growing Concern
Digital Rights Watch, a digital rights advocacy group, has been a vocal critic of the age verification law. Chair Lizzie O’Shea argues that the number of deleted accounts is not an accurate measure of success. Instead, she contends that the law’s impact should be assessed based on its effect on young people’s wellbeing .
O’Shea points to a concerning trend: an increase in young people seeking mental health support services after being cut off from their online social networks. Digital Rights Watch argues that the ban has caused “grave harm” to many
