Meta has started informing Australian teenagers that their accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads will be deactivated beginning December 4, ahead of the country’s social media ban for under-16s that takes effect on December 10. This preemptive action aims to ensure compliance with the new law, which targets multiple platforms to protect young users from online risks.
The notifications are being delivered via email, text messages, and in-app alerts to users Meta believes are between 13 and 15 years old. Meta estimates that around 350,000 Instagram users and 150,000 Facebook users in this age bracket will be affected. The company is urging these teens to download their data, including posts, videos, and private messages, before their accounts are shut down. They are also prompted to update contact details so Meta can reach them when they turn 16 to reopen accounts. This process is part of Meta’s effort to proactively remove under-16s from its platforms in line with Australian regulations.
The social media ban, passed by the Australian parliament, applies to nine major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Snapchat, and Kick. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the measure as “world-leading,” intended to “let kids be kids” by shielding them from pressures and risks associated with social media. While Meta and other companies oppose the ban, they have committed to complying with the law to avoid potential fines of up to A$50 million for non-compliance.
Meta’s identification of under-16 users relies on existing age information and will be enhanced through artificial intelligence analysis of user behavior. However, the company acknowledges that some users may have provided false ages when signing up. To address this, Meta is implementing a multi-layered approach, starting with notifying those it is most confident are under 16 in the coming week, with ongoing reviews to improve detection accuracy.
For users who believe they have been wrongly flagged as under 16, Meta has established an appeals process. They can challenge the removal by undergoing facial age estimation through a “video selfie” or by providing government-issued identification such as a driver’s licence. The facial scans are conducted by Yoti, a company that claims not to store facial data after verification. Independent testing, however, has shown that facial age checks can have a false negative rate of around 13.9% for 16-year-olds, meaning some eligible users might be incorrectly blocked.
The ban’s implementation follows concerns about the impact of social media on teen mental health, with research indicating a correlation between platform use and declining psychological well-being. Australia’s e-Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, emphasized that the goal is to protect teens from exposure to harmful content and social pressures. In response, some platforms like Roblox have preemptively introduced age checks for chat features to avoid inclusion in the ban.
Meta’s early account closures, starting December 4, are designed to ensure that most under-16 users are removed by the December 10 deadline. The company stated that compliance will be an ongoing process, as teens may attempt to circumvent age assurance measures. Meta advocates for an alternative approach where under-16s require parental approval to download apps, but for now, it is focused on meeting its legal obligations in Australia. This move sets a precedent for other countries considering similar regulations, highlighting the global debate over balancing youth protection with digital access.
