A viral amateur fight project for teenagers in outer Adelaide, South Australia, has been completely taken down by social media platforms following intervention from state police and widespread public condemnation, with seven young participants already facing official reports for dangerous public behavior.
The unregulated group, calling itself South Australia Fight Club (SAFC), drew global attention after it posted raw clips of unsanctioned fistfights between teenage participants in Elizabeth, a northern suburb of Adelaide. The content quickly spread across Instagram and YouTube, accumulating thousands of views and building a follower base of more than 2,000 on Instagram and nearly 600 on YouTube before platforms removed the accounts.
The controversy deepened after one organizer, identified only as Owen, confirmed an incident where a knife was pulled on a fighter during a brawl, cutting one video short. Speaking to Australian broadcaster Nine, Owen pushed back against public framing of the group as dangerous actors. “It just went bang. It’s bullcrap that he did that. It makes us sound like we’re horrible people, but like we’re not. It’s just a one-time thing,” he said. According to Australia’s 7News, the group also lashed out at law enforcement in deleted Instagram stories, claiming police were “doing anything but catching real criminals” in response to the crackdown. Members have also stated publicly they hold “no regrets” over their involvement with the club.
By Thursday morning, both major platforms hosting SAFC content had deactivated the group’s accounts, in coordination with South Australia Police (SAPOL). YouTube issued an official statement confirming the channel termination was rooted in child safety rules. “As part of our community guidelines, content that shows minors fighting or bullying others isn’t allowed on YouTube,” a company spokesperson said. “In accordance with our child safety policy, the channel was terminated.” Meta, the parent company of Instagram, was contacted for comment on its removal of the content but has not issued a public statement as of the latest updates.
SAPOL has confirmed seven youths have been formally reported for the offense of public fighting. Authorities note additional reports could still be filed as the investigation continues. “The youths have been reported for fighting in a public place. Any consequences will be determined in accordance with the youth justice system and will depend on the individual circumstances and antecedent history of those involved,” a SAPOL spokesperson said. The offense carries a maximum penalty of a AU$1,250 fine or three months of imprisonment. Three of the involved youths — a 14-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, and a 13-year-old girl from Adelaide’s northern suburbs — are scheduled to appear in youth court at a future date.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas publicly condemned the group in a post to the social platform X, calling the activity “completely unacceptable” and pushing back against the framing of the brawls as harmless entertainment or community building for young people. “Violence is never the answer for young people searching for community,” he wrote. “This behaviour is not entertainment. It is dangerous, it glorifies violence, and it puts young people at serious risk. The message is clear: Organising, participating in or promoting this sort of violence has consequences.”