Meta Enforces New Social Media Restrictions for Australian Youth

Thu Dec 04 2025 14:47:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Meta begins removing accounts of Australian children under 16 from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, in anticipation of a new social media ban aimed at protecting minors from online harms.

As Australia prepares for a groundbreaking social media ban targeting users under 16, Meta has begun the process of removing accounts of teens aged 13 to 15 from its platforms. The new law, effective December 10, aims to protect children from harmful online content. Approximately 500,000 accounts are expected to be affected, with potential fines for companies that do not comply. Critics express concerns about the impact of the ban and the potential isolation of teens from social connections.

Meta has started booting Australian children under 16 years off its Instagram, Facebook, and Threads platforms, a week before an official teen social media ban begins.

The tech giant announced last month that it had begun notifying users aged between 13 to 15 years old that their accounts would start being shut down from 4 December.

An estimated 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts are expected to be affected. Threads, similar to X, can only be accessed via an Instagram account.

Australia's world-first social media ban starts on 10 December, with companies facing fines of up to A$49.5m (US$33m, £25m) if they fail to take 'reasonable steps' to stop under-16s from having accounts.

A spokesperson for Meta told the BBC that 'compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multi-layered process'. The company emphasizes the need for standardized age verification methods to ease compliance.

Critics argue the ban could lead to isolation for the affected youth, pushing them towards less regulated areas of the internet. Australia's eSafety Commissioner is monitoring alternative platforms that may attract these users.

The ban is part of a broader effort to protect children from harmful content on social media, amid rising concerns about online bullying and exposure to inappropriate materials.