Meta has begun removing Instagram, Facebook, and Threads accounts of Australian users under 16 ahead of the country’s groundbreaking social media ban taking effect on December 20. Starting December 4, Meta is deactivating profiles of 13 to 15-year-olds, with around 500,000 accounts expected to be affected.
The new law, the first of its kind worldwide, imposes fines reaching A$49.5 million on companies that fail to prevent minors from accessing their platforms. Meta says “compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multi-layered process” but advocates for standardised age verification at the app store level to ease enforcement and protect privacy.
Under-16 users flagged for removal can download their content before deactivation and appeal by submitting a “video selfie” or official ID. Besides Meta, platforms like YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch must also comply.
Communications Minister Anika Wells acknowledged early challenges but stressed protecting Generation Alpha from “predatory algorithms” that create a “dopamine drip.” She quoted the creator of these features calling them “behavioural cocaine.”
YouTube criticised the measures as “rushed,” warning that banning child accounts with parental controls could reduce safety by pushing kids towards unregulated online spaces.
A government study found that 96% of Australian children aged 10 to 15 use social media, with many exposed to harmful content and cyberbullying. While the ban aims to curb these risks, critics caution it may isolate vulnerable youths reliant on these platforms for social connection.