Meta Removes 756,000 Australian Teen Accounts Amidst Ban Enforcement

Meta Platforms has deactivated over 756,000 accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16 since the country's social media ban for minors went into effect.

The company reported removing 462,000 Instagram accounts and 294,000 Facebook accounts between the ban's start in December and June. This figure represents an increase from earlier reports, which indicated 331,000 Instagram and 173,000 Facebook accounts removed by January. Meta stated its commitment to complying with the law, which it and other platforms had opposed. Australia's internet regulator is considering an enforcement lawsuit against platforms, including some owned by Meta, for insufficient compliance steps.

The Australian government introduced the law on December 10, aiming to protect the physical and mental health of children and young teens. Meta stated that enforcement is ongoing and the numbers will continue to grow, asserting it shares the government's goal of ensuring safe, age-appropriate online experiences. Representatives from Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap are scheduled to provide evidence in a parliamentary inquiry on Friday, alongside regulatory and government officials.

Australia has accused platforms of intentionally undermining the ban and has increased the maximum penalty for non-compliance to AU$99 million, granting the regulator greater document discovery powers. Other countries are considering similar age restrictions.