Meta has begun removing children under 16 from Instagram, Facebook and Threads just days before Australia’s new nationwide ban on teen social media use takes effect.
The company last month started notifying users aged 13 to 15 that their accounts would be deactivated from 4 December. About 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts are expected to be affected. Threads, which requires an Instagram login, will also be impacted.
Australia’s world-first law takes effect on December, 10 with tech companies facing fines of up to A$49.5 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to block under-16s from signing up.
A Meta spokesperson told the BBC that complying with the law will require “an ongoing and multi-layered process.” The company maintains that a more effective system would be for app stores to verify a user’s age at the point of download and require parental approval for under-16s. Such a move, Meta argues, would remove the need for teenagers to verify their identities across multiple platforms.
Meta says users identified as under 16 will be able to download and save their posts, videos and messages before their accounts are closed. Those who believe they were wrongly flagged can appeal by submitting a video selfie or providing government-issued identification.
The new ban covers all major social platforms, including YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick and Twitch.
The government says the measure is necessary to protect children from harmful content, but critics warn it could isolate young people who rely on social platforms for social connection and push them toward less-regulated online spaces.
Communications Minister Anika Wells acknowledged that the rollout may face early challenges but insisted the ban is designed to safeguard Generation Alpha and younger children from harmful algorithms and addictive online experiences. She described young users as being tied to a “dopamine drip” from the moment they acquire a smartphone.
Authorities are also monitoring lesser-known platforms such as Lemon8 and Yope to determine whether children are migrating there. This week, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant wrote to both platforms requesting they assess whether they fall under the new rules.
Yope co-founder Bahram Ismailau said the start-up had already conducted a self-assessment and concluded it is not a social media platform, arguing it functions as a private messenger with no public content. Lemon8 has reportedly said it will block under-16s even though it is not currently captured by the ban.
YouTube, which was initially excluded before being added to the list, criticised the law as rushed, saying the ban will remove existing parental controls and could make the platform “less safe.”
Global governments are closely watching Australia’s approach. A government study released earlier this year found that 96% of children aged 10–15 used social media, and seven in ten had been exposed to harmful content including violent material, misogyny, and posts promoting eating disorders and suicide. One in seven reported experiencing grooming behaviour, while more than half said they had been victims of cyberbullying.
