Australia's social media ban for under-16s hits local creators hard

Entertainment Dec 11, 2025

Australia just rolled out a ban stopping anyone under 16 from using TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as of December 10, 2025.
With about a million teens suddenly offline, local creators are feeling the pinch—many are seeing their views and engagement drop fast.

Creators scramble to adapt

Comedy creator Josh Partington says his videos now get only a fraction of their usual 100,000 views. Indie musician Harry Kirby has lost 1,000 Instagram followers since the ban.
Some creators are trying new platforms or changing how and when they post to keep up.
Meanwhile, the government reports that 200,000 TikTok accounts have already been deactivated as platforms work to enforce the new rule.