Meta has started taking down accounts belonging to Australian users under the age of 16 from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads ahead of the country’s new social media age-restriction law. The policy, which will be enforced from December 10, requires major platforms to block underage users or face substantial penalties if they fail to show they are taking “reasonable steps” to comply.
A spokesperson for Meta said the company has already begun identifying and removing accounts that appear to belong to younger teens. The company described its compliance process as “ongoing and multi-layered,” adding that affected users will be able to download their account data and will have their access restored once they turn 16. The rule is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of teenagers, with Instagram alone estimating that about 350,000 users in Australia are between the ages of 13 and 15. Some apps, such as WhatsApp, Pinterest, and Roblox, are currently exempt from the ban, although authorities say the list may change.
While Meta says it supports the new safety measure, it is urging the government to shift the responsibility of age verification to app stores. The company argues that requiring age checks at the point of download would make the process more effective and prevent teens from having to verify their age across multiple services. YouTube has also raised concerns, warning that the ban may make young users “less safe” because they could still access the platform without an account but would lose access to protective filters. Australia’s communications minister dismissed that claim as “weird,” insisting that platforms must first address unsafe content on their own websites.
Officials have pointed to cases where harmful online material targeted vulnerable teenagers, saying the new rule is motivated by a need to reduce risks even if no system can eliminate them entirely. A legal challenge has already been filed by an internet rights group claiming the law violates freedom of expression. Regulators also expect some teens to attempt to circumvent the rule using fake IDs or AI-altered images, but acknowledge no verification system will be flawless.
Australia’s move has drawn international attention, with Malaysia preparing to introduce a similar policy next year and New Zealand currently drafting its own restrictions aimed at children under 16.