Meta to Restrict Facebook and Instagram Access for Australians Under 16 Starting December 4

Meta has announced plans to restrict access to Facebook and Instagram for Australian users under the age of 16, starting December 4. This move precedes the enforcement of Australia's new social media law, which takes effect on December 10 and prohibits individuals under 16 from maintaining accounts on certain platforms.

Beginning November 20, Meta will notify users it identifies as aged 13 to 15 about the impending account deactivations. Affected users will receive messages stating, "Soon, you'll no longer be able to use Facebook and your profile won't be visible to you or others." They are advised to download their data and can opt to delete their accounts or provide contact information to reactivate them upon turning 16.

The Australian government's legislation mandates that social media platforms take "reasonable steps" to prevent minors from creating or maintaining accounts. Non-compliance could result in fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $32 million USD). The eSafety Commission estimates there are around 350,000 Instagram users and 150,000 Facebook users aged 13 to 15 in Australia.

In addition to Facebook and Instagram, the ban applies to other platforms, including Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. The eSafety Commissioner has indicated that the list of age-restricted platforms may evolve over time.

Critics of the ban express concerns about its potential impact on young people's mental health and access to information. Journalist Leo Puglisi noted that many young people engage with news content on social media and stated, "I think young people do have the right to be informed."

Meta has outlined an appeals process for users incorrectly identified as under 16. Affected individuals can verify their age by providing government-issued identification or undergoing facial age scans.

This development is being closely monitored by regulators worldwide as they consider similar measures to protect minors online.