Meta to Remove Under-16 Users in Australia Ahead of Youth Social Media Ban

Canberra: Tech giant Meta announced Thursday that it will start removing users under 16 in Australia from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook ahead of the country’s upcoming youth social media ban. The law, a global first, requires major online platforms including TikTok and YouTube to block underage users by December 10. Companies failing to take “reasonable steps” could face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (US$32 million).

A Meta spokesperson said the company is “working hard to remove all users who we understand to be under the age of 16 by December 10,” adding that compliance will be an ongoing, multi-layered process. Younger users will be able to save and download their online histories, and will regain access to their accounts and content once they turn 16.

Instagram alone reports about 350,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15 who will be affected. Some apps, including Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp, are exempt, though the exemption list is under review.

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Meta called for app stores to verify ages instead, arguing that requiring teens to repeatedly prove their age across different apps is inefficient. YouTube also criticized the ban, claiming it could make young Australians “less safe” as under-16s would lose YouTube’s safety filters while browsing without an account. Communications Minister Anika Wells dismissed this argument, saying that YouTube should fix unsafe content targeting young users, noting that some teens had harmed themselves after being exposed to content that affected their self-esteem.

The ban has faced legal challenges. The Digital Freedom Project recently filed a case in Australia’s High Court, calling the law an “unfair” attack on freedom of speech. Authorities also warn that teens may attempt to bypass the restrictions using fake IDs or AI tools to appear older.

Australia’s move has attracted global attention, with countries like Malaysia and New Zealand considering similar restrictions to protect children online.