It’s only been hours since Australia’s new social media age restrictions kicked in, and in true internet fashion, the teens are already revolting — in the comments section of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s own TikTok.
A post uploaded to @albomp’s account on Tuesday, a few hours before the ban locked in, has been absolutely overrun by users claiming to be under 16, proudly declaring the crackdown “didn’t work”.
“It didn’t work bud,” one comment with more than 600 likes reads. Another asks, “So we’re all still here?” while someone else simply flexed, “Got past it 😂”.
The video itself — a message from the PM explaining why the ban exists — has now raked in more than 1,500 comments, most of them from kids who probably should’ve lost access at midnight.
So, yes — the law might be live, but Gen Z appears to be on VPN time.
What the under 16s social media ban actually does
From December 10, major platforms — including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit and Facebook — are now legally required to block Australians under 16 from creating or using accounts. If they don’t, they could cop fines of up to $49.5 million.
This is the first move by any country to impose a national legal age limit on social media at this scale.
It’s all part of a broader government push to protect young users from what Albanese called “the pressures of online life”, after years of mounting research about social media’s mental health impacts.
“You’ll know better than anyone what it’s like growing up with algorithms, endless feeds and the pressure that can come with that,” the PM said a video message hours before the ban. “That’s why we’ve taken this step to support you.”
The Prime Minister also had some advice for disconnected teens suddenly facing a lot more… offline time.
“Start a new sport, learn a new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there on your shelf for some time. And importantly, spend quality time with your friends and your family. Face to face,” Albanese said.
Which, yeah — to every 15-year-old staring down a TikTok-less summer (allegedly lol), that probably felt like the political equivalent of your dad unplugging the Wi-Fi and telling you to “touch grass”.
A world-first move under scrutiny
The rollout is being closely watched overseas, with other governments — including Denmark and Malaysia — considering similar rules.
Still, tech platforms aren’t exactly applauding the move. Reddit, for one, called the law “arbitrary” and warned it could curb both privacy and free expression. Two teenagers are even challenging the ban in the High Court and the “special hearing” will take place in February.
Meanwhile, local parents’ groups and child-safety advocates have largely welcomed it, calling it an overdue safeguard.
Enforcement remains the big question. Platforms will have to introduce some form of age verification and report monthly to the E-Safety Commissioner, whose budget has been doubled to help oversee the changes.
As for Albanese? He’s already declared the rollout a win. “It’s already a success,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne, arguing that “families are taking back control” and that “Australia is leading the world”.
However, E-Safety commissioner Julie Inman Grant acknowledged the rollout of the ban is “messy”.
“People will say the rollout was messy, well it was always going to be messy when you’re dragging the most powerful rich companies kicking and screaming into doing something they don’t want to do. But it’s the right thing for Australian children,” she said to ABC News.
UNICEF released a statement with their concerns stating: “While UNICEF welcomes the growing commitment to children’s online safety, social media bans come with their own risks, and they may even backfire.
“Social media is not a luxury — for many children, especially those who are isolated or marginalised, it is a lifeline providing access to learning, connection, play, and self-expression. What’s more, many children and young people will still access social media, whether through workarounds, shared devices, or turning to less regulated platforms, ultimately making it harder to protect them.”
With comment sections full of underage teens gleefully proving they’re still around, the whole thing’s shaping up to be a very modern kind of standoff: government legislation vs. Gen Z digital literacy.
And if the TikTok replies are any indication — the teenagers are very much still here.
Lead image: TikTok
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