Meta Removes More Than 750,000 Under-16 Facebook, Instagram Accounts in Australia

Meta has removed access to more than 750,000 under-16 Facebook and Instagram accounts in Australia as the country's new social media age ban takes effect. This is the first large-scale implementation of such a ban, giving Australia a chance to measure the impact of restricting younger teens from using major social networks. The country's under-16 rules require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent younger users from creating or maintaining accounts.

Meta is complying with the ban but wants age checking handled differently, arguing that app stores and operating systems should verify age and share that information with apps. People can still regain access if they can verify they are over 16. Removing an account does not necessarily reduce a teen's overall social media use, as they may simply switch to another platform.

The ban has sparked concerns about compulsive social media use, which are driving lawsuits against Meta in the US. Britain plans to use the same model for its own under-16 restrictions in 2027, while Norway is preparing legislation that would require tech companies to verify younger users at login.