Meta deactivates over 500,000 accounts of under-16s under Australia’s social media ban

Meta has announced the deactivation of over half a million accounts in Australia that it identified as likely belonging to users under the age of 16. This action comes in response to Australia’s pioneering law, which took effect on December 10, prohibiting minors under 16 from using or maintaining profiles on major social media platforms.

Compliance with Landmark Legislation

Between December 4 and 11, the tech giant disabled a total of 544,052 accounts across its platforms: 330,639 on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook, and 39,916 on Threads. In a public statement, Meta affirmed its commitment to complying with the new Australian regulations, which target platforms including TikTok, YouTube, X, and Snapchat in addition to its own services.

Industry Calls for Alternative Approaches

While enforcing the ban, Meta expressed reservations about the broader approach. The company called on the Australian government to collaborate with the tech industry to develop what it described as a “better way forward.” It advocated for incentivizing industry-wide standards to create “safe, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate online experiences” rather than implementing what it termed “blanket bans.”

Ongoing Challenges in Age Verification

A core concern highlighted by Meta revolves around the technical and practical difficulties of accurately determining a user’s age online in the absence of a unified, industry-wide verification standard. This challenge underscores a global debate about how to effectively protect younger users online, balancing safety, privacy, and access. Australia’s enforcement of this ban places it at the forefront of a contentious international policy experiment.