Meta Starts Removing Underage Accounts in Australia

Meta has begun the process of deleting social media accounts for Australian users under 16 years old across its platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Starting December 4, the company has been notifying users aged 13 to 15 that their accounts will no longer exist.

Beginning December 10, social media platforms risk fines of up to A$49.5 million (around $33 million USD) if they do not take steps to prevent under-16s from having accounts. Australian eSafety Commissioners plan to send out requests on December 11, asking for specific data on how many accounts were removed from these sites, with further reports expected throughout 2026.

It is projected that around 150,000 Facebook accounts and 325,000 Instagram accounts will be affected.

“The government recognizes that age assurance may require several days or weeks to complete fairly and accurately,” said Communications Minister Anika Wells. “However, if eSafety identifies systemic breaches of the law, the platforms will face fines,” she added.

On Wednesday, Google informed users that anyone under 16 in Australia would be signed out of YouTube on December 10 and would lose access to features like playlists, which are only available for account holders. Google claims it determines user ages based on personal data associated with Google accounts and additional signals.

Google stated, “We have consistently said this rushed legislation misunderstands our platform, the way young Australians use it and, most importantly, it does not fulfill its promise to make kids safer online.”

For users over 16 who may have had their accounts incorrectly revoked, Meta has offered a chance to verify their age using a government-issued ID or video selfie. Platforms like X and Reddit have also reached out to underage users, advising them to download their pictures and freeze their accounts until they reach the appropriate age.

The Australian government argues that this ban is aimed at protecting children from the risks of social media. However, critics raise concerns that it might separate certain groups who rely on these platforms for social connection and potentially drive younger users to less safe areas of the internet. A rights group based in Sydney, Digital Freedom Project, is urging the High Court to block the enforcement of this law next week.

The situation in Australia has drawn international attention, as several world leaders and countries, including members of the European Commission, France, Denmark, Greece, Romania, and New Zealand, are contemplating setting minimum age requirements for social media use as well.