Meta accelerates child account removals
Meta now removes Australian users under 16 from Instagram, Facebook and Threads. The company acts one week before the national youth ban begins. Meta said last month that it warned users aged 13 to 15 about closures starting on 4 December. The company expects about 150,000 affected Facebook accounts and around 350,000 impacted Instagram profiles. Threads also faces removals because access depends on an Instagram login. Australia’s new law takes effect on 10 December and orders platforms to block under-16s. Firms face fines of up to A$49.5m if they fail to take reasonable steps.
Meta demands stronger age-verification rules
A company spokesperson told a British news outlet that the compliance process will stay complex and long-term. She said Meta will obey the law but wants a more effective and privacy-focused system. Meta urges governments to require age checks in app stores before downloads. Parents would approve access for under-16s and avoid repeated checks across apps. Meta also said flagged teens can save posts, videos and messages before deactivation. Young users who believe the system misjudged their age can request a review and upload a short video selfie. They may also present a driver’s licence or another government ID.
Major platforms face the same pressure
The ban also applies to YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick and Twitch. The government says the new law shields children from online harm. Critics warn that it may isolate young people who rely on digital spaces for support. They also fear teens may move to unregulated parts of the internet. Communications Minister Anika Wells said she expects early issues but aims to protect Generation Alpha. She said strong algorithms trap young users in harmful content cycles. She described children as tied to a constant “dopamine drip” once they join social platforms. Wells also monitors apps like Lemon8 and Yope to watch for youth migration after the ban.
Newer apps enter the spotlight
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner asked Lemon8 and Yope to check whether the ban applies to them. Yope’s chief executive said the company has not received direct questions but already completed an internal review. He said Yope works as a private messenger with no public content. He compared it to WhatsApp because users only share moments with trusted contacts. Reports say Lemon8 will block under-16s next week even though the law does not directly list the platform. YouTube, first exempt then added, criticised the law as rushed. The company argues that removing accounts with built-in parental controls makes the platform less safe.
World watches Australia’s approach
Governments around the globe monitor the new policy closely. A government study found that 96% of children aged 10 to 15 use social media. Seven in ten saw harmful content including violent material and posts linked to eating disorders or suicide. One in seven reported grooming behaviour from adults or older children. More than half said they experienced cyberbullying.
