Meta will block access to Instagram, Facebook and Threads for all Australian users under sixteen by ten December. The company confirmed the move on Thursday as it works to comply with Australia’s new national restriction on social media access for teenagers.
Meta has begun notifying users it believes are between thirteen and fifteen years of age. These users are receiving in app alerts, emails and text messages stating that their accounts will be shut down. From four December, Meta will start deactivating their accounts and will also prevent anyone under sixteen from creating a new account.
Meta said the full process is expected to finish by ten December. It had earlier told lawmakers that removals would only start once the law came into effect on that date. Meta said it will use several age assurance methods to meet the new rules and will follow a data minimisation approach. It will only ask for additional information if it has a reason to question a user’s stated age.
Antigone Davis, vice president and global head of safety, said, “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.”
Australia’s internet regulator says there are about one hundred and fifty thousand Facebook users aged between thirteen and fifteen in the country, and about three hundred and fifty thousand Instagram users. No figures have been released for Threads.
Meta said affected teenagers can update their contact details so they can be informed once they turn sixteen. They can also download their data or choose to delete their accounts.
Australia’s new restriction is one of the most far reaching government efforts to control minors’ access to social media. Regulators worldwide are watching the rollout closely. The law requires platforms to take reasonable steps to block minors from holding accounts. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to forty nine point five million Australian dollars, which is thirty two point zero nine million dollars.
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