Meta removes young users ahead of deadline
Meta now removes Australian children under 16 from Instagram, Facebook and Threads. The company begins this action one week before the national ban starts. Meta said last month that it notified users aged 13 to 15 about closures beginning on 4 December. Around 150,000 Facebook accounts and about 350,000 Instagram profiles will be affected. Threads also loses young users because access depends on an Instagram login. Australia’s new law starts on 10 December and requires platforms to keep under-16s off their services. Companies face fines of up to A$49.5m if they fail to act.
Meta calls for better age checks in app stores
A company spokesperson told a British news outlet that compliance will stay complex and ongoing. She said Meta will follow the law but wants a stronger and more privacy-friendly system. Meta urges governments to introduce age checks in app stores before downloads. Parents would then approve access for under-16s and avoid repeated checks across different apps. Meta 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 use a driver’s licence or another official ID.
Major platforms brace for impact
The ban also covers YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick and Twitch. The government says the law protects children from online harm. Critics warn that it may isolate teens who rely on digital communities. Some fear that young users will move to unregulated online spaces. Communications Minister Anika Wells said she expects early hurdles but aims to protect Generation Alpha. She said strong algorithms trap teens in harmful content cycles. She described children as linked to a constant “dopamine drip” once they join social platforms. Wells also watches apps like Lemon8 and Yope to track any youth migration after the ban.
Emerging platforms face fresh scrutiny
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner asked Lemon8 and Yope to check whether the law 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 share daily moments only with trusted contacts. Reports say Lemon8 plans to block under-16s next week even though the law does not list the platform. YouTube, first excluded then included, criticised the measure as rushed. The company argues that removing teen accounts with parental controls will reduce safety.
World watches Australia’s experiment closely
Governments worldwide monitor Australia’s approach. A national study found that 96% of children aged 10 to 15 use social media. Seven in ten said they saw harmful posts including violent material or content linked to eating disorders or suicide. One in seven reported grooming behaviour from adults or older children. More than half said they experienced cyberbullying.
