Tech giant Meta has announced it will proactively remove Australian users under 16 from its Facebook and Instagram platforms starting December 4. This move comes ahead of a sweeping new Australian law that will formally ban teenagers from social media, set to take effect on December 10.
The company stated it will begin notifying users aged 13 to 15 that they will lose access to Instagram, Threads, and Facebook. “Meta will begin blocking new under-16 accounts and revoking existing access from 4 December, expecting to remove all known under-16s by 10 December,” the company said in an official statement.
Meta clarified that affected teenagers will not permanently lose their account data. The company assured that users will be able to access their accounts “exactly as you left it” once they turn 16, indicating that profiles, photos, and connections will be preserved during the suspension period.
Read: Australia Expands Social Media Ban for Under-16s to Include WhatsApp, Reddit
The announcement follows significant industry pushback against the Australian government’s legislation. Social media companies have previously described the laws as “vague,” “problematic,” and “rushed.”
Meta reiterated its concerns on Thursday, stating, “We share the Australian Government’s goal of creating safe, age-appropriate online experiences, but cutting teens off from their friends and communities isn’t the answer.”
The new regulations will require social media platforms, including TikTok, to remove users under 16 or face substantial financial penalties. Meta’s preemptive compliance indicates the company is preparing to meet the December 10 deadline while continuing to oppose the law’s approach.
