Meta Implements New Age Restrictions on Australian Social Media Platforms

Thu Dec 04 2025 21:07:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Meta begins enforcing age restrictions, kicking children under 16 from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads ahead of Australia's new social media laws aimed at protecting youth.

In response to upcoming legislation aimed at safeguarding Australian children, Meta has started suspending accounts of users under 16 on its major platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. With an estimated 500,000 accounts impacted, Australia plans to enforce a social media ban for this age group starting December 10, leading to potential fines for non-compliance. Critics are concerned about the unintended consequences of isolation and access to unregulated content.

In a move that alters the landscape of social media in Australia, Meta has begun the process of removing accounts for children under the age of 16 across its platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. This initiative precedes the formal implementation of Australia's pioneering social media ban that takes effect on December 10.

Last month, Meta began alerting users aged 13 to 15 that their accounts would be disabled starting December 4. This decision impacts an estimated 150,000 Facebook accounts and around 350,000 on Instagram, with Threads users affected as they access the platform through Instagram accounts.

The upcoming Australian law aims to impose significant penalties on social media companies, with fines reaching up to A$49.5 million (approximately US$33 million or £25 million) should they fail to adequately prevent under-16s from creating accounts.

According to a Meta spokesperson, compliance will involve an evolving approach, advocating for a more standard and privacy-centered method for age verification, which would ideally involve app stores confirming user ages during downloads.

This sweeping ban affects other platforms too, such as YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch. Critics express concerns that such measures may inadvertently isolate vulnerable groups who rely on social media for connections, pushing them toward less regulated sites.

Communications Minister Anika Wells highlighted the initiative's goal to protect future generations from harmful content typically found on social media, referencing alarming statistics about youth exposure to misogynistic, violent content and cyberbullying.

The first-of-its-kind ban has drawn international attention, with global leaders and social media companies observing the results of Australia's approach as they move toward a potential reassessment of regulations surrounding minors and digital engagement.