Meta says it has taken down 756,000 Australian teen accounts as ban enforcement looms
The Australian government proposed the landmark law, which came into force on Dec 10, on concerns about social media's impact on the physical and mental health of children and young teens.
The Australian government recently implemented a law aiming to protect the well-being of children and young teens on social media platforms. The law went into effect on December 10, and it has led to Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, taking down over 756,000 accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under the age of 16.
The company deactivated 462,000 suspect Instagram accounts and 294,000 suspect Facebook accounts between December and June, a significant increase from the 331,000 Instagram accounts and 173,000 Facebook accounts removed by January. Despite the ban, more than eight in ten under-16s were still active on social media during the first three months of its implementation.
The Australian government and regulatory bodies are considering enforcement action against platforms, including Meta-owned entities, for their failure to comply with the law. Meta has stated it is committed to ensuring young people have safe, age-appropriate online experiences and is utilizing AI technology to identify accounts belonging to users under 16.
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- Meta says it has taken down 756,000 Australian teen accounts as ban enforcement looms myjoyonline.com
- Meta says it has taken down 756,000 Australian teen accounts as ban enforcement looms channelnewsasia.com
- Meta says it has taken down 756,000 Australian teen accounts as ban enforcement looms thehindu.com
