Younger Australian teenagers are being warned that their social media accounts will be shut down ahead of the country’s upcoming ban on platforms for users under 16. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, said it has begun notifying users believed to be between 13 and 15 years old via text, email, and in-app messages that their accounts will start being deactivated from 4 December.
The ban, which comes into force on 10 December, applies to a range of platforms including TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the measure as “world-leading,” intended to “let kids be kids.” While Meta and other companies have opposed the legislation, they have pledged to comply.
Australia’s internet regulator estimates that around 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram users fall within the 13-15 age bracket. From 4 December, children under 16 will no longer be able to create accounts on Meta platforms. Meta is encouraging affected users to update their contact details and to download and save posts, videos, and messages before their accounts are deactivated.
Teens who believe they meet the minimum age requirement can challenge the restriction through identity verification, including a “video selfie” for facial age scans, or submission of a driver’s licence or other government-issued ID. These methods were evaluated earlier this year by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS), which concluded no single solution is fully effective in all cases.
Platforms that fail to take “reasonable steps” to block under-16s could face fines of up to A$50 million. Meta’s vice-president and global head of safety, Antigone Davis, said compliance will be an ongoing, multi-layered process. The company also expressed support for legislation requiring parental approval before under-16s can access social media.
Australia’s e-Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said the ban is aimed at protecting teens from online pressures and risks. In response, gaming platform Roblox announced measures to prevent users under 16 from chatting with adult strangers, introducing mandatory age checks in December for Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, with a global rollout in January.
Platforms affected by the ban include Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube. Services exempt from the ban include Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids.
