Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that the country has “taken control back” from major tech companies as a new nationwide ban on social media for young teens officially came into force.

Speaking about the new law, Albanese told Australians, “This is world-leading. This is Australia showing enough is enough. It is about our families taking back control.” His remarks came as the world’s first social media age-restriction rules began to apply.

Under the new policy, children under 16 have lost access to accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The government has instructed technology companies to remove these accounts or face heavy penalties.

The ban affects hundreds of thousands of young Australians. Instagram alone reported that it has around 350,000 users aged between 13 and 15. However, not everyone must prove their age. Only users suspected of being underage will face checks. Although teens cannot hold their own accounts anymore, they may still view some content without signing in.

Platforms covered under the ban

The restrictions apply to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, as well as livestreaming services like Kick and Twitch.

The government also added YouTube to the list, even though officials initially suggested it would be excluded so that children could continue watching educational videos. Other widely used platforms such as Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp remain exempt for now, but regulators are still reviewing the list.

Tech companies express concerns

Most major technology firms have followed the new rules, but several of them have warned that the ban may have unintended effects.

Meta said on Wednesday that removing under-16 users could push them to less safe online spaces. “We’ve consistently raised concerns that this poorly developed law could push teens to less regulated platforms or apps. We’re now seeing those concerns become reality,” the company stated.

Elon Musk’s X also confirmed it would obey Australia’s new regulations. “It’s not our choice – it’s what the Australian law requires,” the company said. X was the last of the 10 restricted platforms to outline how it would enforce the ban.