Australia's Social Media Ban: Impact on Youth and Compliance Strategies

Sun Dec 07 2025 01:46:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Meta begins removing Australian users under 16 from social media platforms as part of a new law aimed at protecting children from online risks. The legislation faces scrutiny and raises questions about its effectiveness and implications.

In an unprecedented move, Australia has initiated a ban on social media use for children under 16, impacting platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Meta has begun the removal process for affected users ahead of the official start of the ban on December 10. This law aims to shield younger users from online harms, but critics worry it could lead to isolation and less regulation on alternate platforms. The government's intent is to protect Generation Alpha from behavioral algorithms that are deemed harmful. The global implications of this ban will be closely monitored.

Meta has initiated the removal of Australian children under 16 from its Instagram, Facebook, and Threads platforms, a week before an official teen social media ban begins.

The tech giant announced last month that it would start notifying users aged between 13 to 15 years old about their account shutdowns, beginning December 4. An estimated 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts are expected to be affected by this action. Threads, similar to X, requires an Instagram account for access.

Australia's world-first social media ban takes effect on December 10, with companies facing fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million, £25 million) if they do not take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from maintaining accounts.

A Meta spokesperson stated that compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multi-layered process. While the company is committed to adhering to the legislation, it advocates for a standardized approach to age verification that protects user privacy. The spokesperson mentioned that app stores should verify ages when users download applications and seek parental permission for those under 16, to eliminate repetitive age verification processes across different platforms.

Users identified as under 16 will be able to download and save their posts, videos, and messages before their accounts are closed. Teens who believe they have been incorrectly classified can request a review by submitting a video selfie or providing a driver's license or other government-issued ID as age verification.

Besides Meta's three platforms, the ban also extends to other social media sites including YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch. While the government asserts the ban is aimed at safeguarding children from social media's potential harms, critics argue that it may isolate vulnerable groups reliant on these platforms for connection and drive youth to less regulated areas of the internet.

Communications Minister Anika Wells expressed that there would likely be initial challenges as the ban is implemented but emphasized that the objective is to protect Generation Alpha and future generations. She described the concerns about children being subjected to damaging algorithms and emphasized the need to address their online environments effectively.

Currently, about 96% of children aged 10-15 in Australia use social media, and many reported exposure to harmful content. The government intends to closely monitor the impact of this ban, especially as youths transition to alternative platforms in the wake of these regulations.