Millions of Australians lose social media access. Here’s why

Millions of children and teenagers in Australia have lost access to their social media accounts. (File Photo)

Millions of children and teenagers in Australia have lost access to their social media accounts after a new law banning users under 16 came into force, the BBC reported.

Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Threads, Twitch and Kick must now remove accounts held by under-16s and block new sign-ups. Companies that fail to follow the rules face fines of up to A$49.5m.

Why government introduced social media ban

The government says the law aims to protect young people from harmful content, but critics told The Guardian the move could isolate vulnerable teenagers or push them towards unregulated parts of the internet.

Prime Minister Anth