Meta has initiated the removal of Australian children under 16 from its platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, one week before Australia's pioneering social media ban takes effect on December 10. The company began notifying users aged 13-15 last month that their accounts would be deactivated starting December 4, with an estimated 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts affected.
The Australian government's ban, the first of its kind globally, will impose fines up to A$49.5 million on social media companies that fail to prevent under-16s from having accounts. While Meta stated it would comply, the company advocated for a more standardized approach requiring app stores to verify age during downloads. Affected teens can download their content before deactivation and may contest the decision through age verification methods including video selfies or government ID.
The ban also covers platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Twitch, though YouTube criticized the legislation as "rushed" and potentially making its platform "less safe." Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the ban as necessary to protect Generation Alpha from social media's harmful effects, citing research showing 96% of Australian children aged 10-15 use social media, with many exposed to harmful content or experiencing cyberbullying and grooming behaviors.
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