Meta Begins Deleting Hundreds of Thousands of Underage Accounts Ahead of Australian Social Media Ban
Meta is actively shutting down approximately half a million accounts on Facebook and Instagram belonging to users under the age of 16, as the December 10th deadline for Australia’s new social media ban rapidly approaches. The move marks a significant step toward enforcing the legislation, which aims to protect children online.
The Australian government’s ban on social media for individuals under 16 years old was announced earlier this year, with Meta proactively notifying users last month that account closures would begin on December 4th. According to data released by the eSafety commissioner in February, an estimated 150,000 Facebook accounts and 350,000 Instagram accounts are currently held by users between the ages of 13 and 15.
Beginning Thursday, Meta will also prevent the creation of new accounts for Australian users under the age of 16. “While we are working hard to remove all users who we understand to be under the age of 16 by December 10th, compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multilayered process,” a Meta spokesperson stated.
The company is offering a pathway for younger users to preserve their digital history. “If you’re under 16, you can still preserve and download your digital history across Instagram, Threads, and Facebook,” the spokesperson added. Furthermore, Meta has pledged to notify users before they turn 16, informing them that they will soon be able to regain access to their accounts and that all previously posted content will be fully restored.
The ban extends to Threads, Meta’s text-based social media platform, as access requires an existing Instagram account. While Meta has not publicly disclosed the number of Threads users, it acknowledges that the user base is a subset of its Instagram account holders.
Last month, Meta initiated the process of informing users it believed to be under 16 about the impending account deactivation, and also provided avenues for appeal for those who were incorrectly identified.
Australia’s Communications Minister, Anika Wells, emphasized the legal implications of non-compliance. Speaking at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Wells stated that any child with a social media account on December 10th would indicate that “that platform is breaking the law.” However, she also acknowledged the complexities of fully implementing the ban, noting that it would take time to refine “the age assurance sieve” to effectively filter out existing accounts and prevent the creation of new ones.
“Most parents, carers and teachers I talk to don’t expect perfection, but what they do say to me is ‘Thank you for trying this – do not back down!’” Wells added, highlighting the broad public support for the initiative.
The government views the age restriction not as a definitive solution, but as a crucial step in a broader strategy. “Increasing the minimum age to have a social media account is not a cure, it is a treatment plan. And this is not set and forget. We can’t be static in dynamic environments – because the tech sure isn’t,” one analyst noted.
Platforms that fail to adhere to the new regulations could face substantial fines, potentially reaching $49.5 million. The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, indicated that she will closely monitor platform compliance starting December 10th, adopting a “graduated risk and outcomes-based approach to compliance and enforcement,” with a particular focus on platforms with the highest proportion of underage users.
A wide range of social media platforms – including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, and YouTube – have been identified by the government as needing to implement the ban by next week. All companies except X and Reddit have confirmed their commitment to comply with the new regulations; both X and Reddit were contacted for comment.
This sweeping change in Australia’s social media landscape represents a significant effort to prioritize the safety and well-being of its youngest citizens in the digital age.
