Meta Deactivates 550,000 Accounts to Comply with Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban

Meta Platforms has deactivated approximately 550,000 accounts in Australia to comply with the nation's new law prohibiting social media use by individuals under 16. Between December 4 and December 11, the company removed 330,639 accounts on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook, and 39,916 on Threads.

The legislation, which took effect on December 10, mandates that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Threads prevent under-16s from maintaining accounts. Companies failing to comply face fines up to A$50 million.

Meta has expressed concerns about the law's effectiveness, suggesting it may not achieve its goal of enhancing youth safety online. The company stated, "We call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivising all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans."

Critics argue that the ban could lead teenagers to migrate to less regulated platforms, potentially exposing them to greater risks.

The Australian government is expected to release data soon on the total number of accounts deactivated across all platforms affected by the ban.