Pakistan, Dec. 4 -- Australia has begun enforcing a ban on social media for under-16s, starting with Meta platforms. Instagram, Facebook, and Threads have started deactivating accounts ahead of the December 10 deadline. The move signals a global push to regulate Big Tech and protect children online.

The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said the law is the first domino in worldwide social media regulation. She initially worried about the "blunt-force" ban but embraced it after incremental measures failed.

Meta, TikTok, Snap, and YouTube have all announced compliance. Under the new law, platforms are contacting underage users to download photos and contacts or freeze their accounts until they turn 16. Around one million Australia...