X Criticizes Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Over Foreign Law Concerns
X has condemned Australia’s law banning social media use by under-16s as infringing foreign laws.
Why it matters: This highlights the complex legal challenges social media platforms face in complying with national regulations that may conflict with broader privacy and foreign law issues. Legal and tech professionals must navigate these cross-border tensions carefully.
- Australia's law bans under-16s from major social media platforms since December 10, 2025.
- Platforms like Meta and X have deactivated millions of accounts to comply with the ban.
- X criticizes the Australian law for risking interference with foreign laws and privacy rights.
- Australia’s eSafety Commissioner warns of enforcement gaps and may take legal action against non-compliant platforms.
Australia implemented a landmark law on December 10, 2025, banning individuals under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter). The legislation mandates social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to enforce this restriction, with penalties for non-compliance reaching up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (TechRadar).
In the initial days after enforcement, platforms removed, deactivated, or restricted more than 4.7 million accounts suspected to belong to under-16 users. Meta alone reported nearly 550,000 accounts removed across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads (ABC News).
Nonetheless, X has publicly criticized the ban, arguing that it infringes on foreign laws and users’ privacy rights. The platform contends that the Australian law risks overreach into international legal frameworks, complicating social media companies’ ability to comply globally.
Meanwhile, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has flagged "major gaps" in enforcement by various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The Commissioner warned about potential legal action targeting companies failing to adequately prevent access by users under 16 years old (Euronews).
Despite these efforts, reports indicate that some children are already circumventing restrictions, raising doubts about the ban’s long-term effectiveness (Euronews).
This situation illustrates the tensions between national regulatory ambitions and global digital platforms’ cross-border operations. Legal and tech professionals must grapple with these tensions as governments pursue stronger protections for minors online while social media companies balance compliance with privacy rights and foreign legal frameworks.
By the numbers:
- 4.7 million accounts restricted or removed — first days after the ban’s enforcement
- 550,000 accounts deactivated — Meta’s compliance effort across Facebook, Instagram, Threads
- $49.5 million AUD — maximum penalty for platforms failing to enforce under-16 ban
Yes, but: While X challenges the ban on grounds of foreign law interference, the Australian government maintains the regulation aims to protect minors, emphasizing ongoing enforcement.
What's next: Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is considering legal action against social media platforms that fail to fully enforce the under-16 restriction, potentially escalating regulatory scrutiny.