Meta has begun deleting accounts belonging to under-16 users as Australia prepares to enforce its world-first social media ban. The new law starts on 10 December and stops children under 16 from creating or keeping accounts on major platforms. These include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitch, Reddit and YouTube.
Heavy penalties for breaches
Platforms that ignore the law face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars. Meta confirmed it started removing Instagram, Threads and Facebook accounts on 4 December. All deletions will be completed by the day the ban takes effect.
Teens warned weeks in advance
Meta said it began notifying young users on 19 November. This gave teenagers time to save contacts or download data before losing access. Messenger remains available for children so they can stay in touch with family and friends without using Facebook.
Reactivation possible at sixteen
The company will store contact details for affected users and reconnect with them when they turn 16. Older users who lose access by mistake can verify their age with government ID or a video selfie to restore their accounts.
Hundreds of thousands affected
Meta told Australian politicians that around 450,000 under-16s use Instagram and Facebook. Other major platforms have also said they will follow the law despite disagreeing with it.
Industry pushback continues
Meta argues that cutting teens off from online communities is not the best solution. It prefers a system where parents approve app downloads for younger users, a method used in many US states. TikTok and Snapchat are applying new age checks to find and delete underage accounts before the deadline. The list of restricted apps is still being finalised, with recent additions such as Lemon8. Video gaming and messaging apps remain excluded for now.
