Meta Begins Teen Account Shutdown in Australia
Meta has started warning young Australian users that their Instagram, Facebook and Threads accounts will soon be shut down, as the country prepares to enforce a strict ban on all social media access for kids under 16.
The ban, which will come into force on the 10th of December, applies to major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, X, Snapchat and Reddit.
From the 4th of December, Meta will start disabling accounts belonging to users it believes are aged between 13 and 15, and notify them of the action by text, email and in-app alerts.
Australia’s government says the “world-leading” policy is designed to “let kids be kids,” reducing exposure to online risks and social pressure.
Meta and other tech companies aren’t too happy and oppose the measure; however, they have confirmed they will comply.
Regulators estimate that around 350,000 Instagram users and 150,000 Facebook users in Australia fall within the affected demographic.
From early December, new accounts cannot be created by anyone under 16, and existing young users will be encouraged to download their posts, videos and messages before deactivation.
Teens who believe they are old enough to stay on the platforms will be able to challenge the restriction by providing a government-issued ID or completing a “video selfie” for facial age-scanning.
These methods were tested by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme, which found no single approach guaranteed accurate results in every scenario.
Platforms that fail to take “reasonable steps” to block under-16s could face significant fines of up to $50 million.
Australia’s e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the intention is to limit harmful experiences for youngsters online.
The list of banned platforms will be reviewed regularly, while some services, such as Roblox, are voluntarily tightening safety controls for younger users ahead of the rollout.