Meta has started removing Australian children under the age of 16 from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads—one week before the country’s world-first ban on social media for minors officially begins on December 10.
Last month, the tech giant began notifying users aged 13 to 15 that their accounts would be shut down starting December 4. An estimated 350,000 Instagram accounts and 150,000 Facebook users are expected to be affected. Threads, which requires an Instagram account to access, will also be restricted.
Under the new law, platforms face fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to stop under-16s from having accounts. A Meta spokesperson told the BBC that while the company is “committed to complying with the law,” it believes “a more effective, standardized, and privacy-preserving approach” would be for app stores to verify user age upon download and require parental consent for minors.
Affected users are able to download and save their posts, videos, and messages before deactivation. Teens who believe they have been incorrectly flagged can request a review by submitting a video selfie or government-issued ID.
The ban also applies to YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch. Communications Minister Anika Wells acknowledged potential “teething problems” in the first weeks but said the law is aimed at protecting “Generation Alpha” from the harms of social media. She described young users as being connected to a “dopamine drip” and targeted by “predatory algorithms.”
Critics argue the ban could isolate vulnerable groups who rely on social platforms for connection and push minors toward less-regulated apps. Wells said she is monitoring platforms like Lemon8—a TikTok sister app—and Yope for signs of migration. Lemon8 has reportedly said it will exclude under-16s despite not being named in the law, while Yope claims it functions as a private messenger and falls outside the ban’s scope.
YouTube, initially exempt but later included, called the law “rushed” and warned that banning accounts—which come with parental controls—could make its platform “less safe.”
The Australian government commissioned a study this year that found 96% of children aged 10–15 use social media, with 70% exposed to harmful content and one in seven reporting grooming-type behavior. As the first country to enact such a ban, Australia’s experiment is being closely watched by governments worldwide.
By James Kisoo
