Meta closed nearly 550,000 accounts in Australia in response to the nation’s new social media ban for users under 16, which began on December 10.
The account closures included 330,000 Instagram, 173,000 Facebook, and 40,000 Threads accounts identified as belonging to children. Meta stated its compliance process would continue to evolve, while reiterating concerns regarding online age determination without an industry standard, according to a post on Medium.
Australia’s minimum age social media ban mandates that ten platforms, encompassing Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Reddit, and Twitch, restrict access for underage users. Non-compliance carries fines up to AUD 49.5 million ($33 million). Platforms employ methods including age inference from user activity and selfie-based verification to enforce the age restriction.
Reddit initiated legal action against the Australian government, contending its exclusion from the ban based on its classification as a non-social media platform. Reddit also cited “serious privacy and political expression issues” for users resulting from the regulation.
Meta voiced opposition to the ban, noting potential isolation for teens separated from online communities and a shift of underage users to “less regulated parts of the internet.” The company also highlighted inconsistencies in age verification methods and perceived disinterest in compliance from teens and parents.
The swift removal of almost 550,000 accounts one month after the ban’s implementation indicates the financial impact on Meta. The company has faced scrutiny regarding teen safety, including past criticisms for downplaying the prevalence of harm to children.
