Meta alerts Australian teens to download data before social media ban

Meta has initiated a two-week notification process warning Australian users under 16 to download or delete their data before the company removes their accounts to comply with the nation's pioneering social media ban for minors. The alerts, sent via email, SMS, and in-app messages to users of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, inform teenagers they have 14 days remaining on the platforms "due to laws in Australia" according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Unprecedented Social Media Ban

Starting December 10, Australia will implement what it describes as a "world-first legal obligation" requiring major social media platforms to prevent anyone under 16 from opening or maintaining accounts. The sweeping regulation affects Reddit, Kick, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, Threads, and YouTube, with Messenger being the only Meta platform currently exempted. Companies failing to comply risk penalties of up to $50 million Australian dollars ($33 million).

Mass Account Removal Timeline

Meta will begin systematically purging existing underage accounts on December 4 while simultaneously blocking minors from creating new profiles. The ABC report estimates at least 350,000 users will be removed from Instagram and 150,000 from Facebook by the deadline, with additional removals expected to follow as the company enhances its age detection systems.

Age Verification Challenges

For users wishing to challenge their removal, Meta will require rigorous age verification procedures. Options include submitting to facial age estimation through a "video selfie" or providing government-issued identification such as a driver's license. The company also plans to improve its proactive detection systems for users who may have misrepresented their age, with AI analysis of user behavior expected to play a significant role in identifying underage accounts.