NewsGlobalMeta Shuts Down 550,000 Accounts in Australia Following Social Media Ban for Under-16sMeta Shuts Down 550,000 Accounts in Australia Following Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Meta Platforms Inc. shut down approximately 550,000 accounts in Australia to comply with the country's social media ban for under-16s, including 330,000 Instagram, 173,000 Facebook, and 40,000 Threads accounts. The legislation, effective December 10, makes Australia the first democracy to implement such restrictions, with platforms facing fines up to A$49.5 million ($33.00 million) for non-compliance. Despite compliance, Meta opposes the ban and warns about teens migrating to alternative platforms.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Meta Platforms Inc. has taken significant action to comply with Australia's groundbreaking social media ban for children, shutting down approximately 550,000 accounts across its platforms. The company announced these measures in a blog post, marking one of the largest account closure operations in response to age-restriction legislation.
Account Closure Breakdown
The social media giant's compliance efforts resulted in substantial account closures across its three main platforms:
| Platform: | Accounts Closed |
|---|---|
| Instagram: | ~330,000 |
| Facebook: | 173,000 |
| Threads: | ~40,000 |
| Total: | ~550,000 |
These accounts belonged to users believed to be under 16 years of age, as required by the new Australian legislation.
Legislative Framework and Penalties
Australia's social media ban for children came into effect on December 10, establishing the country as the world's first democracy to implement such comprehensive restrictions. The law targets major social media platforms, including ByteDance Ltd.'s TikTok and Meta's Instagram, requiring them to prevent under-16s from accessing their services.
The legislation carries substantial financial penalties for non-compliance:
| Penalty Details: | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum Fine: | A$49.50 million |
| USD Equivalent: | $33.00 million |
Meta's Position and Concerns
Despite complying with the new requirements, Meta has maintained its opposition to the ban. The company advocates for alternative approaches to protecting young users online, calling for standard age-verification processes and more comprehensive industry-wide protections for young people across all applications.
Meta has expressed particular concern about the potential migration of teenagers to alternative social media platforms, describing this as a "whack-a-mole effect." The company argues that teens may simply move to new applications to circumvent the social media ban law, potentially creating new challenges for child safety online.
Global Implications
Australia's legislation represents a significant milestone in global efforts to address concerns about social media's impact on children and adolescents. The law's implementation and Meta's substantial compliance response may influence similar regulatory approaches in other jurisdictions worldwide.
The scale of account closures demonstrates the significant presence of underage users on major social media platforms and highlights the challenges platforms face in age verification and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.
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