'Social media has given our family so many opportunities. Australia's ban could take it all away.'

When Beck and Rebecca were first asked by their kids, Charli and Prezley, to start a YouTube channel back in 2018, they were hesitant. Who wouldn't be? The internet is a wild place.

But fast-forward seven years, and that 'Empire Family' brand has earned them a successful life, six million followers across their combined platforms and a steady income right here in Australia.

Charli, 14, and Prezley, 17, are bona fide creators on their own platforms, landing incredible opportunities and lucrative brand deals.

That entire life is now being packed into boxes and shipped across the world.

The reason? The Australian government's upcoming social media ban for children under 16.

For Charli, that law means losing everything: her 536,000 YouTube subscribers, 188,000 Instagram followers and 284,000 TikTok fans — audiences she loves connecting with.

To save her platform and her burgeoning career, the family is making the bold decision to swap Perth for London. They are leaving their home, their community and their country to ensure their daughter can keep her job and be closer to more opportunities.

Watch: A snippet of one of Charli's videos with Beck. Post continues below.

The law in question is the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, passed by the Australian government in late 2024. From December 10, 2025, most major social media platforms must take "reasonable steps" to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from having accounts.

This means they need to find and deactivate existing accounts held by under-16s and prevent them from opening new ones.

What's more, parents cannot simply give consent for their child to stay online.

The government says it's to protect young Australians from the pressures and risks they can be exposed to on social media.

Beck and Rebecca aren't sure it's the right approach.

Living in Perth, a move to a less isolated city was always on the cards for the family. But when Charli asked to switch to online school and then news of the social media ban broke, they realised the time had come sooner than anticipated.

"When we heard that it was actually going to happen, we were like, "Okay, we need a solution because Charli loves being online'," Rebecca told Mamamia.

"'What's the best thing we can do right now for our family, both personally and professionally?' So, that's how the UK move eventuated very quickly.

"I think it's the push we might have needed because we were considering it for a long time."

Charli shares dancing and lifestyle videos online. Image: Instagram/miss_charli_official.

The irony isn't lost on Beck and Rebecca. They understand the government's concern about children online because they had the very same fears when Charli and Prezley first pitched the idea of making YouTube videos.

"What we knew about it was that it was like a dangerous kind of unsafe space," Beck recalled.

"We were just like, 'Nope, we're not even getting into it, guys'. Just a flat, 'No'."

But they decided to educate themselves and set strict boundaries. Today, they manage the teens' accounts entirely — from filming and editing to monitoring comments.

And while a major criticism of family vloggers is that they're exploitative, the mums maintain their kids are the ones consistently pushing to make content — and they get the final say.

"We always have a bit of a discussion about what we would like to share," Rebecca said.

"We don't share anything that is even remotely private or something. It's stuff that you would share on Facebook or something like that."

It's a delicate balance of boundary-setting, protection and entrepreneurship. But it's a balance the family is now leaving Australia to maintain.

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For Charli, the platform isn't just a career; it's a creative outlet that has led to extraordinary opportunities, including being flown to LA for red carpet interviews and acting in an award-winning short film.

"I have met so many amazing people, travelled to some incredible places, worked with brands I've loved since I was little and even met other creators who've become real friends," Charli told Mamamia.

"There have been so many other amazing opportunities… and they've all come directly from being found on social media.

"It's shown me how many doors social media can open if you use it in a positive way."

Prezley and Charli at DreamWorld. Image: Supplied.

While she understands the government's protective intentions, Charli believes a blanket ban is the wrong approach.

"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.

She explained that while some kids are trying to use workarounds like putting "parent managed" in their bios, most kids are planning on simple evasion.

This is exactly what worries Beck and Rebecca.

"Kids will ultimately find a way around the ban, and taking it underground is the part that worries us, as it potentially exposes them to more harm," Rebecca said.

A blanket ban could "stop the healthy conversations within homes and schools where they're educating", Beck added.

Beck and Charli during her time presenting as a DreamWorks ambassador. Image: Supplied.

The mums aren't naive to the dangers of the internet, but they believe education, not prohibition, is the path forward.

"The internet is not going away, and we need to teach kids how to use it responsibly," Rebecca said.

For now, the focus is on a fresh start. The family is sad to leave behind loved ones and their life in Perth, but they are embracing the adventure of London.

As they pack their final boxes, Rebecca reflected on the bittersweet situation.

"For us, it's a shame to lose that connection to their community," she said.

"Social media is definitely used for many different purposes, but for us, it's about creativity and connection and really making those inroads for their careers that they feel really passionate about.

"We hope that the government can figure out a way to work with families and work with kids for better education. I think that is the bottom line."

Despite the challenges, the parents remain committed to supporting their children's passions.

"We're really focused on helping the kids build their careers in this space because that's what they want at the moment," Rebecca said.

"We just hope that they feel proud of what they've built and that they're confident in who they are and what they've done."

Feature image: Supplied.