Meta is preparing to shut down Facebook, Instagram and Threads accounts belonging to Australian users under the age of 16, with the company confirming it will comply with the country’s sweeping new social media restrictions ahead of a December 10 deadline.
The Silicon Valley giant said it has already begun alerting users it believes fall between ages 13 and 15. Notifications are being delivered through in-app messages, email and text, warning that their access to the platforms will soon be removed.
Beginning December 4, Meta will start deactivating those accounts outright while also blocking any new sign-ups attempted by users under 16. The full removal process is expected to be completed by December 10, aligning with Australia’s enforcement of one of the world’s toughest laws governing minors’ access to social networks.
In a statement, the company stressed it will rely on multiple age-assurance tools to determine who must be removed from the platforms. Meta said it will also employ what it described as a “data minimisation approach,” gathering additional details only when it has reason to question a user’s stated age.
“While we are working hard to remove all users who we understand to be under the age of 16 by 10 December, compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multi-layered process,” said Antigone Davis, the company’s vice president and global head of safety.
Australia’s eSafety regulator estimates that roughly 150,000 Australians aged 13 to 15 currently use Facebook, while Instagram has about 350,000 users in the same age bracket. No official figures have been shared for Threads.
The nationwide ban marks one of the most aggressive attempts by any government to restrict young teenagers’ access to social media, and regulators globally are monitoring how effectively Meta implements the changes.
Under the new law, platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent minors from opening accounts. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($32.09 million).
