By: The Trek News Desk
Just days before Australia enforces the world’s first nationwide under-16 social media ban on December 10, Meta has started removing young users from Instagram, Facebook and Threads. The company began sending out notifications last month to users aged 13 to 15, warning them that their accounts would start shutting down on December 4.
How Many Users Are Affected?
Estimates suggest that:
- About 150,000 Facebook users, and
- Nearly 350,000 Instagram accounts
could be impacted. Since Threads operates only through Instagram login, it is also directly affected.
What the Law Requires
Australia’s new legislation demands that platforms take “reasonable steps” to block under-16 users. Failure to comply can result in penalties of up to A$49.5 million (approximately US$33 million).
Meta says it is implementing a “multi-layered compliance approach,” but insists that the real solution lies with app-store-level age verification, so children don’t have to confirm their age separately on every platform.
What Options Do Teens Have When Accounts Are Deactivated?
According to Meta:
- Identified under-16 users can download their posts, videos and messages before losing access.
- Anyone who believes they’ve been misclassified can request a review.
- Age verification can be completed through a video selfie or a government-issued ID.
Other Platforms Also Affected
The under-16 ban doesn’t stop at Meta. It also covers YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch.
Government Says the Ban Protects Kids; Critics Warn of Risks
The Australian government argues that the policy will shield Generation Alpha from the harms of addictive algorithms and unsafe online spaces.
Communications Minister Anika Wells acknowledged that the early weeks may bring complications but said the priority is to keep young users away from “uncontrollable, predatory recommendation systems.”
According to her, children today are “plugged into a dopamine drip” the moment they gain a smartphone and a social media account.
YouTube Calls the Law ‘Rushed’
Initially exempted but later pulled into the ban, YouTube criticised the legislation as being rushed and argued that removing under-16 accounts could make the platform “less safe,” since family-linked accounts allow parental controls and oversight.
What Research Shows
A government-commissioned study earlier this year found:
- 96% of Australian children aged 10–15 use social media
- 70% encountered harmful content, misogyny, violence, eating disorder themes, or self-harm messaging
- 1 in 7 experienced grooming-type behaviour
- Over half reported being cyberbullied
Global Attention
As the first law of its kind, Australia’s move is being closely studied by governments worldwide. Many view it as a potential blueprint for future social media regulation, centred on youth safety.
Source: News Agencies
