Australian Influencer Family Relocates Overseas to Avoid Child Social Media Ban

Facing a world-first ban on under-16s using social media, The Empire Family leaves Australia to keep their kids’ online careers alive.

A Perth-based influencer family has announced they are moving overseas so their children can continue their online careers after the Australian Government introduced a new law banning social media use for anyone under 16.

The popular YouTube family, known online as The Empire Family, revealed they are relocating to London ahead of the ban, which takes effect in December. The legislation — a world-first — requires social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to stop underage users from having accounts, part of a sweeping move to create safer online spaces for young Australians.

Parents Beck and Rebecca said the decision to uproot their lives was difficult but necessary to preserve their children’s livelihoods. Their kids, Charli (14) and Prezley (17), began creating content in 2018, and together the family now boasts over six million followers across platforms, including 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube.

“Australia has been our home for so long, it’s where The Empire Family began, where our kids grew up, and where so many of our memories were made,” the family said in a YouTube video announcing the move. “But sometimes, life takes you on a new adventure you never expected.”

Rebecca told Mamamia that when the family realised the ban was actually going ahead, they had to act quickly.
“When we heard that it was actually going to happen, we were like, ‘Okay, we need a solution because Charli loves being online’,” she said.

Rebecca said she and her husband manage their teenagers’ accounts closely, having educated themselves on online safety.
“We always have a bit of a discussion about what we would like to share,” she said. “We don’t share anything that is even remotely private. It’s stuff that you would share on Facebook or something like that.”

Charli, who has built her own fanbase, said she understands the government’s intentions but believes the blanket ban will fail to achieve its goals.
“I honestly don’t think it’s going to stop teens from using social media. Kids and teens are really smart with tech now and most will just find ways around it,” she said.

Rebecca echoed those concerns, warning the ban could drive young people toward unsupervised online spaces. “I think kids will find an underground way to use social media, which might expose them to even more harmful material,” she said. “The internet isn’t going away, so it’s better to teach kids how to use it responsibly.”

The Empire Family’s move comes as other countries, including New Zealand, begin to consider similar restrictions. National Party MP Catherine Wedd has introduced a member’s bill to ban social media for under-16s, which has been drawn for debate in Parliament.

If passed, the law could lead to mass account removals on major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, alongside hefty fines for companies that fail to enforce age checks.

For now, The Empire Family say they’re focused on starting fresh in the UK — continuing to share their lives online, far from the reach of Australia’s new digital restrictions.