A popular Australian influencer family with millions of online followers is packing their bags and moving to the United Kingdom, citing the nation's upcoming social media restrictions for children under 16 as the primary reason for their departure.
The Empire Family - consisting of mothers Beck and Bec Lea along with their children Charlotte ("Charli"), 14, and Prezley, 17 - are preparing to leave their Perth home in the suburb of Cottesloe and relocate to London before December 10, when the Online Safety Amendment becomes law.
New Legislation Prompts Major Life Change
The legislation, introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government, will prohibit children under 16 from accessing popular social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Companies that fail to comply with the new rules face substantial financial penalties.
For 14-year-old Charli, these regulations would effectively block her from accessing her own social media accounts - a situation the family found unacceptable given their livelihood depends on online platforms.
"To be completely honest with you guys, it's actually one of the reasons we decided to leave Australia," Bec revealed in a video explaining their decision, highlighting the impending legislation as a significant driving force behind their international move.
Building an Online Empire
Since 2018, the family has cultivated an enormous digital following, beginning with challenge and prank videos that resonated with audiences through their relatable content. Their collective channels now boast more than six million subscribers, including 1.79 million on the family's main YouTube account, 2.8 million on Prezley's personal channel, and over 500,000 followers on Charli's platform.
The family generates a six-figure income through their YouTube presence, which has evolved into sponsorships, media appearances, and unique opportunities for their children, including acting roles and invitations to international events.
"Our jobs are social media, so all we need to work is an internet connection," Bec explained, emphasizing the portability of their profession.
International Move Enabled by Dual Citizenship
The family's relocation to London is made possible by their dual citizenship and British passports. Charli, who holds British citizenship, will be able to continue her online activities in the UK without restriction.
"When we were looking at it, we were going to go travelling anyway, so we were like 'this is perfect' because we have dual citizenship and British passports," Bec said. "We've been wanting to travel for a while so now we go to the UK, we can still use our social media."
The family acknowledged they understand the government's intention behind the legislation, with Beck stating: "We understand that it's very important, that there's young people that are affected negatively from social media. We're not naive to that, it's just that how it affects us and the way we use social media, where we would get caught up."
While supporting the goal of protecting children online, the family maintains their use of social media is positive. "We understand that it is protecting young people from harm on the internet, but we use the internet for good," Beck added.
The Empire Family's departure highlights the ongoing debate surrounding Australia's social media restrictions, with critics warning the ban could limit safe spaces for vulnerable youth and raise privacy concerns through required age-verification measures.
