Meta Starts Teen Account Removals Ahead of Australia’s Online Safety Ban

Meta will remove Australian users under 16 from Facebook and Instagram starting December 4, ahead of a national ban taking effect on December 10, BBC reported.

Australia has ordered Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube to block users under 16 from December 10, with penalties of up to AUS$49.5 million (₹286 crore). However, experts warn that weak enforcement and age-verification hurdles could make the ban largely symbolic.

Meta is notifying users aged 13–15 that they will lose access to Instagram, Threads, and Facebook. The company expects to remove all known under-16 users by December 10.

The company estimates there are about 350,000 Australians aged 13–15 on Instagram and 150,000 in the same age group on Facebook. Affected teens will be locked out but can regain access once they turn 16, with their accounts restored in full.

Users aged 16 or older who are mistakenly flagged can verify their age through Yoti Age Verification using a government ID or a “video selfie,” Meta said.

Other countries, including New Zealand and the Netherlands, are considering similar restrictions.