Meta has removed close to 550,000 user accounts across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads as it begins enforcing Australia’s new law banning children under the age of 16 from using major social media platforms. While the company says it is complying with the regulation, it has also renewed calls for the Australian government to rethink what it views as an overly broad and rigid policy.
The law officially took effect on December 10, more than a year after it was passed by lawmakers. It places legal responsibility on social media companies to verify the ages of Australian users and remove accounts belonging to minors under 16. Platforms that fail to meet these obligations face penalties of up to AU$49.5 million, making enforcement a high-stakes issue for global technology firms.
Australia’s Tough New Rules for Social Media Companies
Australia’s under-16 social media ban is among the strictest youth-focused digital regulations introduced anywhere in the world. The legislation covers a wide range of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Threads, Reddit, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Kick.
Under the new framework, companies are required to implement age-verification systems and actively identify accounts belonging to underage users. Once identified, those accounts must be shut down. The law was introduced following long-running concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, exposure to harmful content, and online safety risks.
After months of preparation, enforcement began in December, leaving companies with little room for delay. Regulators have made it clear that failure to comply will result in severe financial penalties, adding pressure on platforms to demonstrate swift action.
Instagram Accounts Make Up the Majority of Removals
In a detailed post published about a month after the law came into force, Meta outlined the steps it has taken to meet its new legal obligations. According to the company, it has disabled nearly 550,000 accounts that it believes belonged to Australian users under the age of 16.
Instagram accounted for the largest share of removals, reflecting its popularity among teenagers. More than 330,000 Instagram accounts were taken down as part of the enforcement process. Facebook followed with around 173,000 accounts removed, while Threads saw nearly 40,000 accounts shut down.
Meta said these removals were carried out using a combination of its existing age-detection tools and additional measures designed specifically to comply with Australian law. The company presented the figures as evidence that it is taking the legislation seriously, even as it continues to criticize the approach behind it.
The Challenges of Verifying User Ages Online
One of the central issues raised by Meta — and other platforms — is the reliability of age-verification technology. Social media companies use a mix of methods to estimate users’ ages, including facial analysis, behavioral patterns, and information provided by users themselves.
Facial scanning technology is widely used but has drawn criticism for inconsistent accuracy. Parents and advocacy groups have reported cases where children as young as 11 were mistakenly identified as adults, sometimes with estimated ages far above 18. These errors raise concerns about fairness and reliability, particularly when account removals are based on automated assessments.
Teenagers have also demonstrated how easily some systems can be bypassed. Methods such as altering facial expressions, using makeup, or masking location through VPNs have reportedly helped underage users avoid detection. In some cases, individuals who successfully pass age checks have assisted others by submitting their own images to help friends or family members get around the rules.
Meta Pushes Back Against a Blanket Ban
Meta has cited these technical limitations as a key reason it opposes Australia’s one-size-fits-all ban. The company argues that current age-verification tools are not advanced enough to justify such sweeping restrictions and that errors could unfairly exclude legitimate users.
Beyond technology, Meta has warned that banning young people from mainstream platforms could have unintended consequences. According to the company, some vulnerable teenagers rely on online communities for social support, learning, and connection. Cutting off access entirely may push them toward less regulated parts of the internet, where safety protections are weaker.
Meta has also suggested that many teenagers and parents show limited willingness to comply with the ban, which could undermine long-term enforcement efforts and create uneven outcomes.
Proposing an Alternative to Outright Restrictions
Instead of a blanket age ban, Meta has urged the Australian government to work with the industry to raise safety standards across platforms. The company has suggested incentivizing the development of privacy-focused, age-appropriate digital experiences designed specifically for younger users.
However, critics argue that Meta’s own history weakens its position. The company has faced repeated scrutiny over child safety issues, data privacy practices, and the spread of harmful content, leading many to question its credibility in debates over protecting minors online.
Even so, Meta’s objections reflect broader concerns across the tech industry about whether strict age bans are the most effective way to address the risks children face online.
Other Platforms Voice Concerns
Meta is not alone in pushing back against Australia’s new law. Reddit, which lists Australia as its fourth-largest market, has also criticized both the legislation and its inclusion under the rules.
Reddit has argued that it does not function like traditional social media platforms, describing itself instead as a collection of public discussion forums. On that basis, the company has questioned whether it should be subject to the same requirements as services built around personal profiles and social networking.
As enforcement continues, more platforms are expected to raise concerns about compliance costs, technical feasibility, and the broader implications of large-scale age verification.
