At the end of last year, Australia became the first country to enforce a comprehensive ban on social media usage for individuals under the age of sixteen. This ban affects major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and streaming services like Twitch and Kick. Public support for the ban was significant, with a reported 77% of the population in favor. Prior to the law taking effect on December 10, approximately 2.3 million Australian children aged eight to fifteen were using these social networks, including 850,000 on Snapchat and 700,000 on Instagram.

The Australian government celebrated a victory in mid-January when reports indicated that social media platforms had deactivated almost five million accounts just two days post-ban. Meta reportedly removed 330,000 users from Instagram and 173,000 from Facebook, while Snapchat deactivated around 415,000 accounts. Minister for Communications Anika Wells hailed this as a "great success" that was making a "real difference" in protecting minors online. However, after two months of the new law's implementation, journalists from Australia's ABC took to the field to assess the situation.

Despite the initial successes reported by the government, the assessments conducted by journalists raised questions regarding the law's effectiveness and actual impact. Initial deportations of accounts onto social media platforms might give the impression of progress, but it remains to be seen whether this has truly curtailed usage among children or if alternative methods of accessing these platforms have emerged. Furthermore, the discussion surrounding the balance between protecting children and ensuring freedom of access to technology is likely to continue as the government seeks solutions that both safeguard young users and remain effective in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.