Australia will soon block anyone under 16 from using major social media platforms. Meta announced on Thursday that it will start removing young users from Facebook and Instagram ahead of the government’s strict new rules.
Australia to Enforce a Full Ban From December 10
The new law comes into force on December 10. It requires platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to delete accounts belonging to users under 16. Companies that fail to comply will face heavy penalties.
Meta said it will act before the deadline. The company will start removing affected users from December 4.
Meta Begins Locking Out Teens
“From today, Meta will be notifying Australian users it understands to be aged 13-15 that they will lose access to Instagram, Threads and Facebook,” the company said.
It added that it will block new under-16 sign-ups and also remove existing accounts. “Meta will begin blocking new under-16 accounts and revoking existing access from 4 December, expecting to remove all known under-16s by 10 December.”
Government figures show that Australia has about 350,000 Instagram users aged 13-15 and around 150,000 Facebook accounts in that age group.
Meta has already started sending alerts to these users. One message reads: “Soon, you’ll no longer be able to use Facebook and your profile won’t be visible to you or others.”
The same message promises access once they are older. “When you turn 16, we’ll let you know that you can start using Facebook again.” Meta said that teenagers will regain their accounts “exactly as you left it” when they turn 16.
How Teens Can Prove Their Age
If Meta mistakenly flags an account, users can verify their age by submitting a government ID or by taking a “video selfie”.
Social media companies previously criticized the law. They called it “vague”, “problematic” and “rushed”. Meta repeated its concerns on Thursday. “We share the Australian Government’s goal of creating safe, age-appropriate online experiences, but cutting teens off from their friends and communities isn’t the answer.”
Global Interest and Concerns
Australia’s move is attracting global attention as governments try to manage the risks linked to social media. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon plans to introduce a similar bill to limit children’s use of these platforms. The Dutch government has also advised parents to keep children under 15 away from apps such as TikTok and Snapchat.
Platforms that break Australia’s new rules may face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million). The ban is among the toughest worldwide. But experts warn that enforcing it may be difficult because verifying users’ ages online remains a major challenge.